Morton S. Wright
Morton S. Wright, 76, of Makanda, and formerly of Anna, died at 7:17 p.m. Saturday, June 17, 2017, at Houston Methodist-Willowbrook Hospital in Houston, Texas.
He was born in Karnak on May 1, 1941, the son of Paul and Bernetta Reed Wright.
He married the love of his life, Kathleen (Wicker) Wright of Steeleville, on June 18, 1965; they shared 52 years of marriage.
After receiving his bachelor of science degree in social studies and a master’s degree in structural materials from Southern Illinois University, he started his career as a pre-college counselor in the admissions office at his alma mater. He then advanced his career through positions at Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, Ky., and Jefferson College in Festus, Mo.
As part of the community college movement in Illinois during the 1960s, he was hired as part of the original administration staff at Shawnee Community College in Ullin in 1969. He advanced to vice president over his 35 years at the college and was most proud of his accomplishments as an integral part of the development of the new campus, moving the original college from its metal buildings, building the original library, leading Shawnee Community College to gain North Central Accreditation, working with the federal government to achieve multiple grants for the college, assuming the role of athletic director and lastly, setting up a satellite campus in Metropolis.
His hobbies included golf with family and friends, working out in the yard, growing his vegetable garden and tending to the land he recently bought next to his house, clearing the underbrush and thinning the trees to make it a park-like setting. His love of trees is evident in their yard with the planting of over 52 oak trees of different varieties. He loved being outdoors and admiring all the wonderful creations of God.
He is survived by his wife, Kathleen Wright; son Daniel Keith Wright and daughter-in-law Linda Kay Wright of Houston, Texas; son Aaron Thomas Wright and daughter-in-law Mika Dawn Wright of Cape Girardeau; sisters Robbie Lowe Taylor of Metropolis and Sherry Lynn Felker of Karnak; brother Bobby Joe Wright of Karnak; grandchildren Nicole Madison Wright and Trenton Scot Wright of Houston, Texas, and Cooper Truman Senciboy and Hendrix Leland Wright of Cape Girardeau.
He was preceded in death by his parents and by a sister, Phyllis Heisner Spurlock of Carterville.
He was a member of Mt. Moriah Lutheran Church in Anna. He was a faithful member since 1971 and had previously served as president of the church council and as a Sunday School teacher.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, June 23, at Mt. Moriah Lutheran Church, with Pastor Mark Hasty officiating. Interment will be in the Immanuel Lutheran Church West Point Cemetery in Campbell Hill. Friends can call from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, today, at Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Anna.
Memorials can be made to Mt. Moriah Lutheran Church.
To leave online condolences for the family, visit www.rendlemanhilemanfh.com.
Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Anna is in charge of arrangements.