Jack Wright

November 4, 1934 - October 1, 2024

Jack Wright, 89, of Beaumont, went to his Heavenly home on Tuesday, October 1, 2024. He was born on November 4, 1934, in Voth, Texas, to Lola Lee Burns Wright and Benjamin Walter Wright. Jack founded Wright’s Scrap Metal in 1968. He was a member of the YMBL, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and Calvary Baptist Church.

Jack enjoyed sharing stories of his childhood and the simple life he experienced. He had an interesting childhood filled with lots of friends and family.  Jack grew up in a government housing project called Multimax Village.  Most people were pretty poor and got by on what they had.  As youngsters, Jack and his friends sometimes skipped school to swim at Colliers Ferry. They would splash across the river, take a moment to enjoy the view on the other side, and then swim back. If he had caught us, he might have given us a quick reprimand, but it was a different time filled with carefree memories. Sports were a big part of Jack’s life. He was a good athlete in junior high and high school, excelling in football, basketball, and track. He and his brother, Earl, enjoyed local notoriety as athletes and were deemed the  “Wright Brothers.”  Jack developed a strong work ethic as a young boy.  He started by milking cows on a dairy farm. He then took on the task of folding newspapers and eventually earned a promotion to deliver them. Later, he helped with milk deliveries in the mornings before heading off to high school.

Jack met the love of his life, Shirley Madole, in high school.  They married in May 1956. Jack founded Wright’s Scrap Metal Inc in 1968 and never looked back.  Jack grew his business from a two-person operation to over thirty-five full-time associates.  If you worked for Jack, you quickly became part of his family. While he might get mad or upset from time to time, those feelings were short-lived, and everything would be back to normal before you left for the day.  Jack operated the business with the same mindset as he did everything else in his life: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Matthew 7:12). He was honest, trustworthy, and dependable. Jack took great pride in building his business and in the fact that, over fifty-plus years, he got to work alongside his wife, two of their children, grandchildren, daughter-in-law, sons-in-law, his brother, and nephews.

Jack also enjoyed volunteering with the Young Men’s Business League. During his fifty-plus years of service, he served on the YMBL board in 1974,1976-1980,  Southeast Texas’ Fair Chairman in 1977, and Key Man Club President in 1993, along with numerous other committees. Jack was a huge supporter of the YMBL Rodeo and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. In 1982, he began serving on the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s Jefferson County Go Texan Committee. Jack found lifelong friends who became family through both of these organizations.

Jack loved God, family, sports, and a good meal. He took extra pleasure in becoming a grandfather even though no grandchild was allowed to call him that; he wanted to be known as “Jack.” Jack had a unique, loving relationship with each of his six grandchildren. He would keep “Nilla Wafers” in his truck so he could always have one in his front pocket, enticing the babies to run to him first! He enjoyed teaching all the grandkids and great-grandkids to hold up their two index fingers side by side and say, “Me and Jack just like that”!  He also was known as the magical “donut man.”  When you woke up on Saturday morning, a bag of donuts was waiting by your front door. Recently, while in the hospital, he “placed” his donut order in his sleep for his great-granddaughter, Lucy. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and mentor to all the young men he met. For the last ten years, Jack showed his love and devotion to Shirley as her health declined. Their sixty-eight-year marriage was full of faith, love, laughter, and family, a testament to the joy Jack found in his life.  Over the years, Jack developed meaningful relationships with Shirley’s caregivers—Tessa, Cynthia, Carolyn, Shirl, and Marilyn—who all cherished their time with him.  The family deeply appreciates the love and care these wonderful women provided.

Survivors include his wife, Shirley Wright; children, Mel Wright and his wife, Neysa; Erin Madigan; and Whitney Black and her husband, Stacy; grandchildren, Ashley Norman and her husband, Andrew; Jonathan Wright and his wife, Andie; Reeves Madigan; Caden Madigan; Lauren Black; and Jackson Black; great-grandchildren, Henry Norman, Grant Norman, Lucy Wright, and Annie Wright; sisters-in-law, Pat Wright and Jane Wright; nephew, Harold Alvarez and his wife, Judy; and niece, Kathy Gobert and her husband, Kenny. He is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Doug Wright, Bill Wright, Robert “Shorty” Wright, and Earl Wright; and sister, Mozelle Bailey.

Memorial contributions can be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 3650 Dowlen Road, Beaumont, Texas 77706, or Alzheimer’s Association, 700 North Street, Suite M, Beaumont, Texas 77701.

A gathering of Mr. Wright’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Friday, October 4, 2024, at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. His funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 5, 2024, at Broussard’s, with his interment to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont.

Video

Download Program

Gathering of Family and Friends

Broussard’s Mortuary McFaddin Ave.
  • 2000, Mcfaddin Avenue, Beaumont, Texas, 77701,
  • October 4, 2024
  • 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Funeral Service

Broussard’s Mortuary McFaddin Ave.
  • 2000, Mcfaddin Avenue, Beaumont, Texas, 77701,
  • October 5, 2024
  • 2:00 pm

Interment

Forest Lawn Memorial Park
  • 4955, Pine St, Beaumont, TX, 77703,
  • October 5, 2024

Comments (20)

    Russell Bistline says:

    Growing up in Beaumont our family lived across the street from the Wrights in Minglewood. Brother Dale and Mel were best friends and my sister Bev babysat Mel and Erin (before Whitney’s arrival.) What a special family! Jack was a great husband, father, and neighbor. I am sad at his passing but glad my path crossed briefly with Jack and the Wright family over 50 years ago.

    Brett Farmer says:

    Rip Jack

    Renee Brown-Nembhard says:

    I was so very sad to hear that Jack had passed. He was a wonderful, kind neighbor! He will be greatly missed. Praying for the family 🙏🏾

    Shirley Weston Allen says:

    Known and loved my friend, Jack, all of our lives. No better man, ever.

    Gary A. Bisel says:

    Being a transplant to BHSfrom INDIANA! I met JACK and EARL thur Football and all the boys that were “ STAR classmates so as we leave this world, MAY JACK RIP and be blessed with all GOD’S GRACE!!!!! Farewell Jack. “ The Yank”!!!

    Shirley Benard says:

    I am glad I got the opportunity to get hire to care for your wife & meet you & Family such a great family,going to miss jack i was the afternoon care given & jack alone w ms.shirley we would watch all the westerns & sports astros,cowboys, & the talks, good conversation about him & wife back in the day.rip jack

    Amy Briggs says:

    Wonderful, sweet memories of spending lots of times at the Wright home as a child. Such a special family. Bless you all.

    Gary ROTHENBERGER Sr. says:

    I first met Jack when we played softball in the church league on college st near where the Baptist Hospital is located today. Win or lose he was a good sport, friendly and pleasant to be around. In recent years I would see Jack at Calvary Baptist on Dowlen. He always displayed that same demeanor with all who greeted him prior to and after we were seated. He was really a great person to talk to and be around. I will miss seeing Jack in his spot at church but I believe the church will soon be Raptured and we who believe will see Jack again. My prayers are for peace and comfort to come upon the Wright family as they adjust to a great void created by the passing of a person who was so dear to each of them. R.I.P. Jack!!

    Lisa Herman says:

    I grew up knowing Jack, Shirley, Mel, and Erin, and Whitney. Jack could always make me smile and laugh- and what a great smile he had! He and Shirley were the perfect couple. I know that Jack has already found my daddy up in Heaven, and they are laughing and telling some good stories! Prayers for peace and comfort for all of Jack’s family- we love you-

    Jenni & Vic Marino says:

    Sorry to hear of your dad’s passing. We know you will miss him.

    Charlie Crabbe says:

    Jack Wright a dear fried of 78 years. Jack was a very friendly person, being a very popular school mate throughout our school years. Jck was a four sport athlete.
    After high school Jack married the love of his life high school sweetheart Shirley Madole. After a couple of starter jobs Jack starters his Wright Scrap Metal.
    Through the years the business grew with help from Shirley, Erin and Mel taking the business to new heights. Good-bye good friend Jack Wright we will all remember you.

    Travis & Amelia says:

    Jack, you will be missed.. he was a great person

    Linda and Jim Sachitano says:

    Mel, Neysa and Family,
    We are so sorry to see that Jack has passed. He and Shirley were so friendly every time we saw them. We’ll be praying for peace and comfort in the days ahead.

    Jimmy Foret says:

    The world has lost a great man, Jack’s memories will never be forgotten. Erin, Donna and I send our prayers for peace and comfort to hold you close.

    Dr. Ed Collins says:

    I really enjoyed getting to know Jack over the years. A great man who loved the Lord and his family.

    Condolences to all the family and may he rest in peace.

    Tom and Julie Munro says:

    Our sincere sympathy to the Wright family, they were our dear neighbors for many years. So glad I saw he and Erin recently in the doc’s office. He always had a great attitude, we will remember him with a smile.

    Jim ishee says:

    Long Long time friend.
    We will miss you Brother
    RIP my friend.as I pray

    Diane Cannon says:

    What a nice, precious man. Was an honor to know all the family! May he RIP!

    Chase Bruno says:

    To my friend Jack – Thank you for always stopping and motivating me every morning to go to work . ” you can’t make any money sitting in the driveway ” your favorite saying . We will miss you Sir.
    Your Neighber , Chase

    Skyler Rosetta says:

    It was a pleasure to take care of Mr Jack and of course Mrs Shirley! He will be deeply missed. 🤍

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