Earl Bell Wright
Earl Bell Wright passed away peacefully on December 10, 2021, at the age of 84, in Kansas City surrounded by his family. He was living in Eudora, KS at the time of his death and lived in the towns of Manhattan and Council Grove for many years. Earl was the son of Douglas W. Wright and Emma S. (Werner) Wright, born in Sterling, Kansas on March 23, 1937.
He graduated from Reno Community High School in Nickerson, Kansas in 1955. In 1956 he met Deanne Dell Phillips while caring for the horses at Rock Springs 4-H Ranch. They were married on August 21,1959, at the Rock Springs Ranch chapel. Earl received his BS degree in Agriculture and Applied Science at Kansas State University in 1960, and his Masters Degree in Education from Colorado State University in 1968. Among his many occupations he was an educator specializing in vocational training, ran a purebred livestock operation, started Pug’s Cafe in Council Grove, and developed an organic grain company. A trained mediator, Earl felt his most meaningful work was his mediation for the Farmers Assistance, Counseling and Training Service (FACTS) during the farm crisis 1985-1995. He and Deanne had a lifelong love of the Flint Hills and had many dear friends in the region.
Earl was preceded in death by his parents, wife Deanne D. Wright, and his brother Douglas Dean Wright.
He is survived by his son Laine (Kathy) Wright, daughter Heather S Wright, grandchildren Lucas Wright, Kalen (Devin) Kelly-Collins, and Emma Reust, sister-in-law Marilyn Wright, niece Debbie (Bob) Tumilty, great-niece Amanda (Kevin) Jackson, great-nephew Doug Tumilty, great-niece Emily Tumilty, great-grand-nephews Timothy Jackson and Thomas Jackson, and great-grand-niece Maggie Jackson.
He was close to his cousins all his life. They are, Elden -2014 (Mary Neita) Werner, Jr., James (Patricia-2015) Werner, David (JoAnn) Werner, Paul (Johann) Ross, Rosalyn (Sid – 2012) Timbie, Miriam (Dick) Winter, Ronald Coverage (Sharon – of Braves 2020) Werner, and Maynard (Marjean) Werner.
There will be a memorial for Earl in the spring of 2022 in Council Grove, Kansas.