William Jay Wright; 1933-2025

William Jay Wright, age 91, peacefully passed away with his family by his side on Feb. 21 after a battle with cancer. 

Jay was born in Cedar City, UT, on Dec. 9, 1933, the son of John Peter Wright and Eloise (Schofield) Wright. Jay was raised and attended school in Hiko and Alamo, NV. Jay loved the FFA program; he was the Nevada state president and went on to become the Pacific Regional Star Farmer. He was elected as the national vice president of the FFA representing the Pacific Region from 1954-55. Jay attended Brigham Young University 1955, where he was a member of their college rodeo and livestock judging teams. In 1956, he was drafted into the Army where he served his country until 1958. After he was released from the Army, he returned to Brigham Young University, where he met Marjorie Anne Garwood. Jay and Marjorie were married in 1960 and were sealed in the St. George, UT, Temple. They eventually became the parents of five children, three boys and two girls.  

During these early married years, Jay worked in the field of agriculture and owned and managed a racehorse, Petite Regards. Jay has been raising American Quarter Horses for the past 63 years and this began during this time. After 50 consecutive years of raising horses, he received the honor of being admitted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame for his American Quarter Horse breeding.  

In 1965, Jay was offered a job as a loan appraiser for Tri-State Livestock Credit Corp., a large livestock financing institution out of San Francisco, CA. He worked this job until 1969. From 1969 to 1971, Jay operated a couple ranches for the Art Linkletter Family, one near Bliss, ID, and the other in Spring Valley, NV.  During his career as a cattle ranch owner and operator he owned and operated ranches in Nevada, Idaho, New Mexico and Arizona. Jay worked as a sales representative for Superior Livestock 2005-11. Jay and Marjorie served as missionaries in the Farmington, NM, Mission 2011-12. Jay and Marjorie served as Temple workers in the Lubbock, TX, Temple and in the Snowflake, AZ, Temple.  

Jay was a great friend; he loved to visit. As a grandpa he had an infectious smile and laugh and lots of hugs. His family brought him great joy.  

William Jay is a cherished husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend to so many. He loved and cherished his family and friends and his Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Jay is survived by his wife, Marjorie Wright; his children, Sonja (Kenneth) Firmage of Eagle Idaho, John (Stephanie) Wright of Twin Falls, ID, Jeanne (Brian) Higbee of Spanish Fork, UT, and Flint (Jamie) Wright of Cottonwood, AZ; 14 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. 

He was preceded in death by his son, Jeffery; grandson, Garrett; his two sisters, Lorene and Ina; and brother, Kay.