Obituary for Sam Wright
Samuel C. Wright was born on October 10, 1936 in Latham KS and passed away at Allen Memorial Hospital in El Dorado on November 11, 2020 at the age of 84.
His early years were spent on a ranch north of Latham living a poor but simple life as many did in those days. His father passed away at age 32 shortly after he was born. His mother owned and operated a mercantile/grocery store in downtown Latham so he spent a large portion of his younger years with his older sisters and grandparents. At age 12 he began working on area ranches, earning a reputation as having a knack for handling livestock and being a hard worker. When he was a junior in high school his mother married and moved to Winfield. Wanting to graduate with his classmates, he moved in with Ralph and Nita Hearne until he graduated in 1955. After high school he went to work in the Flint Hills east of Latham and began courting Betsy Taylor of the nearby community of Douglass. Sam and Betsy were married on June 2, 1957 in Douglass at the First Christian Church and began life together in a small home in Douglass. He held numerous jobs ranging from working for his father in law Jim Taylor on his farming and feedlot operation, to managing the Edger Ranch near Eureka. He also spent years working in the oil fields for Wellex and Haliburton, and at one time managed the Livestock Auction barn east of Douglass. After being laid off from a machinist job at Boeing, he began working at the Mobil Oil Refinery in 1971. A freak accident at the refinery nearly took his life and when he returned to work he was physically unable to work in the plant. They assigned him to be a lab tech in the chemistry lab and prior to closing of the plant in 1983 he often trained new chemists with masters degrees despite just having a high school education. The closing of the refinery was a blessing in disguise as he was able to purchase a cow herd and return to the occupation he loved most. He continued to expand his operation over the next 30 years and was a well respected and successful rancher. After Betsy retired, they enjoyed working with area cattleman gathering and processing cattle. He also enjoyed team roping as well as supporting his children and grandchildren during their high school and college athletics.
Over the years he served his community as a volunteer fireman in Douglass, was a member of the Latham Roping Club, a leader with the Jr Wrestling club in Douglass, was appointed to the Butler County Planning and Zoning Commission, and served multiple terms on the Douglass Board of Education.
He is survived by his daughter Mary (Russel) Flippo of Douglass and sons Mark (Gayle) Wright of Douglass and Marty (Debbie) Wright of Council Grove. He is also survived by nine grandchildren, Brett (Nicole) Wright, Samantha (Brady) Martin, Savannah (Mike ) Fox, Sarah (Taylor) Hageman, Suzie (Jean Carlos) Garcia, Jordan Roberts, Emily (Grant) Jones, Katie Flippo, and Allison (Jacob) Edwards, as well as six great grandchildren, Bailee and Kolter Wright, Weston, Grayson and Berkeley Martin, and Mackenzie Edwards. Also surviving is sister Delores (Wright) Metz of Winfield. He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years Betsy (Taylor) Wright, mother Ora (King) Wright, father Samuel C. Wright, step-father Bert Wright, and sisters Lois (Wright) Starkey and Margaret Louise Wright.
Services are scheduled for Friday November 27. Due to the current situation concerning covid-19, the service will be restricted to family only. Memorials in his memory have been set up with the Latham Community Center and Three Wooden Crosses Church in Augusta. Memorials can be sent to Smith Mortuary 1415 North Rock Rd, Derby, KS 67037.
His early years were spent on a ranch north of Latham living a poor but simple life as many did in those days. His father passed away at age 32 shortly after he was born. His mother owned and operated a mercantile/grocery store in downtown Latham so he spent a large portion of his younger years with his older sisters and grandparents. At age 12 he began working on area ranches, earning a reputation as having a knack for handling livestock and being a hard worker. When he was a junior in high school his mother married and moved to Winfield. Wanting to graduate with his classmates, he moved in with Ralph and Nita Hearne until he graduated in 1955. After high school he went to work in the Flint Hills east of Latham and began courting Betsy Taylor of the nearby community of Douglass. Sam and Betsy were married on June 2, 1957 in Douglass at the First Christian Church and began life together in a small home in Douglass. He held numerous jobs ranging from working for his father in law Jim Taylor on his farming and feedlot operation, to managing the Edger Ranch near Eureka. He also spent years working in the oil fields for Wellex and Haliburton, and at one time managed the Livestock Auction barn east of Douglass. After being laid off from a machinist job at Boeing, he began working at the Mobil Oil Refinery in 1971. A freak accident at the refinery nearly took his life and when he returned to work he was physically unable to work in the plant. They assigned him to be a lab tech in the chemistry lab and prior to closing of the plant in 1983 he often trained new chemists with masters degrees despite just having a high school education. The closing of the refinery was a blessing in disguise as he was able to purchase a cow herd and return to the occupation he loved most. He continued to expand his operation over the next 30 years and was a well respected and successful rancher. After Betsy retired, they enjoyed working with area cattleman gathering and processing cattle. He also enjoyed team roping as well as supporting his children and grandchildren during their high school and college athletics.
Over the years he served his community as a volunteer fireman in Douglass, was a member of the Latham Roping Club, a leader with the Jr Wrestling club in Douglass, was appointed to the Butler County Planning and Zoning Commission, and served multiple terms on the Douglass Board of Education.
He is survived by his daughter Mary (Russel) Flippo of Douglass and sons Mark (Gayle) Wright of Douglass and Marty (Debbie) Wright of Council Grove. He is also survived by nine grandchildren, Brett (Nicole) Wright, Samantha (Brady) Martin, Savannah (Mike ) Fox, Sarah (Taylor) Hageman, Suzie (Jean Carlos) Garcia, Jordan Roberts, Emily (Grant) Jones, Katie Flippo, and Allison (Jacob) Edwards, as well as six great grandchildren, Bailee and Kolter Wright, Weston, Grayson and Berkeley Martin, and Mackenzie Edwards. Also surviving is sister Delores (Wright) Metz of Winfield. He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years Betsy (Taylor) Wright, mother Ora (King) Wright, father Samuel C. Wright, step-father Bert Wright, and sisters Lois (Wright) Starkey and Margaret Louise Wright.
Services are scheduled for Friday November 27. Due to the current situation concerning covid-19, the service will be restricted to family only. Memorials in his memory have been set up with the Latham Community Center and Three Wooden Crosses Church in Augusta. Memorials can be sent to Smith Mortuary 1415 North Rock Rd, Derby, KS 67037.