Harry Payton Wright

Published 1:55 pm Wednesday, December 5, 2018

Harry Payton Wright was born in Port Neches on January 14, 1931 to Vergie Payton and Edward Vernon Wright and died on December 4, 2018.  A lifelong resident of Port Neches, he attended Port Neches Schools and completed his High School years at Schriener in Kerrville, Texas.  He graduated from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, and received his Juris Doctorate from Baylor University School of Law in 1954.  He was admitted to Practice by the Texas Supreme Court of Texas and before the United States Supreme Court.

He began his private practice of law in Port Neches, Texas in 1954. For the first twenty years he practiced law as a solo practitioner, and established the firm of Wright & Pitre in 1974 which was recently restructured as Wright Pitre & Freimuth.  He was still in active practice until the day of his death.

Mr. Wright served as Municipal Judge for the City of Port Neches, Texas for 19 years, and in 1974 he was appointed City Attorney for the City of Port Neches.  He served in that position for 31 years. His firm currently represents the City of Silsbee, Texas as its City Attorney.

He served as President of the Jefferson Bar Association in 1970-1971, and served as the chairman of the local Bar Presidents Section of the State Bar Association.  He was a sustaining life member of the Texas Bar Foundation, and was awarded the Blackstone Award by the Jefferson County Bar Association in 1996.  He was named the Port Neches Citizen of the Year in 2001.

He was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church of Port Neches where he was an active member. He was an Eagle Scout, and was a Master Mason of the Port Neches Lodge #1163 for over 50 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, V. G. Wright.  He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Mary Dow Hendricks Wright; his children: Rebecca Miller (Nolan), Lisa Gorman (Dennis), Don Payton Wright (Melissa), Vernon Hendricks Wright (Deanna); Grandchildren: Kathleen LeBoeuf, Virginia Matteson, Rebecca Watkins, Caroline Moore, Anna Gorman, James Gorman, Tyler Wright, Victoria Wright, Carter Wright, Conner Wright, and Carson Wright, Ten Great Grandchildren, Sister in law, Frances Lawrence, Brother in law, Don Hendricks (Charlotte), numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

Donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Port Neches, Texas Building Fund or Music Fund or to the Baylor University Hendricks Wright Gorman Family Endowed Scholarship Fund.   

Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 8, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Port Neches with Dr. Jason Martin, Dr. David Mahfouz, and Rev. Wilton “Tony” Anthony officiating.  Masonic graveside rites to follow at Oak Bluff Memorial Park.

Visitation for family and friends will be from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday evening at Levingston Funeral Home in Port Neches.