Gerald "Jerry" Lee Wright, Jr.

Gerald “Jerry” Lee Wright, 70, of Merkel, died Wednesday, November 13, 2019. Visitation is 6-8 p.m. Saturday at Starbuck Funeral Home. Services are 2 p.m. Sunday at Merkel First Baptist Church with Rev. T.C. Melton officiating. Burial is at Rose Hill Cemetery with Lance Perry officiating, directed by Starbuck Funeral Home. Jerry was born June 23, 1949 in Long Beach, Calif. to Gerald Wright Sr. and Pearl Ruby Wright and graduated from John Glenn High School in Westland, Mich. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran. He earned a bachelor's degree from Sul Ross State University in Alpine and master's degree from West Texas A&M University in Canyon. His draw to getting into education was the opportunity to coach his sons, Richard and Rusty. He was a superintendent, coach, principal and teacher. He was a very successful football and boys basketball coach at Smyer, where he led basketball to the playoffs and football to the state quarterfinals. Even after leaving Smyer, he kept in contact with many former players. He was proud of his time at Patton Springs in Afton where he coached the Patton Springs Lady Rangers and was a superintendent. He led a dedicated group of girls from their freshman year until their senior year when they earned a berth in the 2019 playoffs. This team also earned a spot in the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches poll. Upon retiring from education, he and his wife Glenna moved to her hometown of Merkel where they bought a small ranch to enjoy. He, along with Glenna and dear friend John Starbuck, owned The Merkel Mail newspaper from 2005 to 2011. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Jim; and a sister, Dianne. Survivors include his wife, Glenna Doan Wright of Merkel; 2 sons, Richard and Christie Bryan of Merkel and Rusty and Kim Bryan of Shallowater; 1 brother, Mike and Ada Rost of Indiana; 2 sisters, Sandy and Mike Gee of Michigan, and Pam and Greg Podsiad of Michigan; and several nieces and nephews. He was most proud of his five grandsons, Justin, Dakota, Maverick, Kaden and Brady. He will be missed by family and friends.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gerald "Jerry" Lee Wright, Jr., please visit our floral store.