John C. Wright, 69

John C. Wright “was taken home to be with the Lord” on Thursday, March 19, 2015, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

He was born on May 8,1945, in Laurel, Mississippi. After high school, he attended Mississippi State University where he pursued a degree in business. John was an avid sportsman and enjoyed all sports, including football, golfing and baseball.

John attended Canvas Church in Kalispell and could be found at the church’s Saturday evening service sitting in his power chair, in the back center row under the camera. He was surrounded by friends and enjoyed the opportunity to visit and worship.

People enjoyed listening to the recounting of John’s adventures in South America, Africa, Europe and the Middle East. For years, John worked as a drilling fluid engineer, better known as a “mud engineer” in the oil industry. He was often working in dangerous locales under risky conditions, including encounters with anacondas and guerrillas.

As a true Southern gentleman, John was proud of his Southern heritage. He loved his native cuisine and had mastered the art of creating mouthwatering dishes. John was also a great jokester with mischievous green eyes. He was known for an enormous sense of humor and for his soft heart. It was not unusual for him to do random acts of kindness when he saw a need.

John had a special love for children. His grandchildren, Maxie, Will, Jack and Lila, were the highlights of his life. He also took great delight in following the activities of his extended family’s children which included Conner, Max, Charlie, Caleb, Abby, Alex, Joey, Ashley, Jamie, Rachael, Owen, Victoria and Mara. They all knew, of course, how to find that special candy drawer!

John was preceded in death by his parents, Ray Wright and Mildred Fagan Wright. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Denise Scroggs-Wright; and his dearly loved stepdaughters, Shannon Scroggs of Hunnington Beach, California, and Carrie Ann Scroggs-Moldenhauer and husband Lenn of Denver; also, his sister, Lynda Wright, of Jackson, Mississippi; his brother, Robert Wright, and his wife, Ann, of Fort Worth, Texas; his niece, Michelle Wright-Valderas, and husband, Terry, and daughter, Victoria.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to Canvas Church Youth Ministries.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. today, March 24, at Canvas Church, lower auditorium, in Kalispell.