Jim Raymond Wright was born in Hutchinson, Kan. Nov. 30, 1931,
to Ralph Raymond Wright and Hazel Eufalla Holland-Wright.
Jim Raymond Wright was born in Hutchinson, Kan. Nov. 30, 1931, to Ralph Raymond Wright and Hazel Eufalla Holland-Wright. He graduated from Reno High School in 1949 and entered the Air Force during the Korean War. Jim loved jazz and fronted several bands throughout his life. His love for jazz went beyond the playing of it; he embodied its playful spirit. This can be seen in the name of one of his jazz quartets: the Sophisticats.
Following this theme of passion and playfulness it is only appropriate that Jim’s other pastime included a creature that is often thought of as playful and powerful: the horse. Jim trained and rode horses most of his walking life. In fact, there is a family picture of him on a large horse as a 3-year old, and he would often jest about being able to ride before being able to walk. Not content to scratch the surface of horse-and-rider culture, Jim played an active role in reviving the historic Pony Express in Reno through re-riding the trails of the West’s early mail delivery system in the annual rerides. He also spent many years training horses. Consequently, he trained the people that rode horses as well – and even people that didn’t ride horses.
In fact, many of those that knew Jim will remember him for being outspoken and straightforward. Whatever Jim did, he did with honesty, and with such honesty comes integrity.
Disciplined enough to tame a horse without breaking its spirit, and responsive enough to express the intricacies of emotion through jazz improvisation prepared Jim for his greatest art: fatherhood. After his passing, he was canonized as the pillar and beloved dad-and-grandpa (or “papo”) of his immediate family and grandchildren. His love for family far surpassed any other passion in life. His love and presence in the lives of those who loved him can only be understood by the heavy weight of his absence upon their hearts.
After retiring as the head manager of the meat department of Dregor’s (Los Altos) he moved with his wife, Dixie, back to Reno. He often referred to Nevada as God’s Country; and it is in this valley of God that Jim lay his head to rest in presence of his wife, the woman he thought of as his angel.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Patricia Jo Ann Kuehne-Delaney. He is survived by his wife Dixie Lee Wright, sister Judith Ann Brooks; daughters Kerin Anne Garrett and Cali Jean Rowland; sons Eric Otto, Jaime Wright and Michael Horsley; and nine grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 17, at Church of the Valley, 13380 Depot St., San Martin.
