James ‘Jim’ Ernest Wright

James “Jim” Ernest Wright, 100, was born on Jan. 29, 1923, in Jonesboro.

He passed away on April 18, 2023, at his home in Tucson, Ariz.

He is survived by his wife, Lillian (Slone) and daughter, Linda (Wright) Moyers; three grandchildren, Kelly (Dawn) Smith, Cari (Scott) Madson and Clint (Beth) Moyers; eight great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Lily May (Sheppard); a sister, Edna (Wright) Martin; brothers Everett, Carl, Fred and Archie Wright; a daughter, Donna (Wright) Smith and son-in-law, Lloyd Moyers Jr.

He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943 and took his basic training in Macon, Ga.

He was part of the 6th Army fleet stationed in New Guinea and Australia which seized Saidor, a Japanese supply base/air strip on the Northern Coast of New Guinea, where they cut off the Japanese supplies and forced them to flee Australia.

He worked as a carpenter for 50-plus years and was employed by Robert Gould Construction in Elgin when he retired.

He enjoyed fishing, hunting, traveling with his wife, family gatherings and working in his garden. He built two homes and remodeled a couple other ones for his family.

Burial will be later in the year in Jonesboro, where he will be laid to rest next to his daughter, Donna (Wright) Smith.

Donations can be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.