Kenneth Wright

Kenneth Earl Wright, 81, of Jackson died Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018, surrounded by his family at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born May 16, 1937, in Ellsinore, Missouri, to Howard and Mary Jane Skiles Wright. He and Clara Marie Ballance were married Feb. 15, 1958, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Army.

After the Army, Ken joined Missouri State Parks system, from which he retired in 1986 as the superintendent of Trail of Tears State Park.

He was a member of New McKendree United Methodist Church in Jackson.

He enjoyed reading westerns, watching Cardinals games and telling jokes to anyone and everyone. He will forever be remembered as the man with the greatest smile and kindest heart. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather.

Survivors include his wife, Clara Marie Wright of Jackson; two daughters, Susan Westrich of Oak Ridge and Dana (Steven) Mueller of Jackson; a son, Stephen (Terri) Wright of Kearney, Missouri; a sister, Donna Chatman of Bowling Green, Kentucky; six grandchildren, Dillon, Gavin, Tanner, Abigail, Allison and Lauren; and a great-grandchild, Maverick.

Burial will be at a later date at Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Jackson Firemen Fund, c/o Jackson 911 Memorial Fund in memory of Kenneth Wright, 503 S. Hope St., Jackson, MO 63755.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.