Ray L. Wright, 71, of Springfield died at 3:19 p.m. Dec. 20 in rural Curran.

Wright was born April 24, 1936, in Ward, Ark., the son of Etta M. Wright. He married Bonnie Gail Watts on April 7, 1979, in Springfield.

Wright was a graduate of Beaumont High School in St. Louis. He received his bachelor’s degree in business from Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Mo., where he was in the Lambda Chi fraternity and played football. Wright was the former owner of Ray L. Wright Construction Equipment Sales and retired from ownership of Builders Sand and Gravel.

Wright also was a member of the American Businessmen’s Club and the Associated General Contractors of Illinois.

He was president of the board for Contact Ministries and helped with the Friend-in-Deed campaign. Wright was active at Calvary Temple Christian Center. He was a member of the Tuesday Lunch Club at Joe Rogers’ Chili Parlor.

Wright enjoyed playing cards, his annual fishing trip to Canada, hunting waterfowl with his friends, bike riding and playing racquetball. He played golf annually at the State Farm Classic and was a regular player at Long Bridge Golf Course. He loved flying his plane and taking angel flights and also enjoyed traveling, especially to Ireland.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Etta M. Wright.

He is survived by his wife, Bonnie of Springfield; a son, Steven Wright of Springfield; a daughter, Jeri Lynne Wright of Springfield; two grandchildren, Alyssa and Tawna Wright; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

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