Jimmie Ray Wright

Jimmie Ray Wright, 87, a life-long resident of Napa and Orland, passed away peacefully at home Thursday December 7, 2023.

Jimmie was born February 7, 1936, near Wichita Falls, TX, to the late Thomas Benton Wright and Josephine Armstrong Wright. Jimmie was the youngest of six children. The Wright and Armstrong families migrated to Napa California in 1942, where Jimmie grew up and graduated from Napa High School in 1955.

Jimmie served in the US Army Infantry 3rd Armored Division in Fort Knox, Kentucky and Germany from 1955 thru 1957. On June 24, 1961, he was married to his wife of 61 years, Elizabeth Ann Wade Wright. Jimmie worked in the agricultural industry, as a roofer and finally for the City of Napa Water Department while raising five children.

Jimmie enjoyed riding horses and raising livestock and yearly fishing trips to Clear Lake with his family. Upon retirement in 2000 he moved to Orland and pursued his dreams as a rancher, buying, raising, and selling cattle at his small ranch, the Bar JRW ranch. In Orland he became a regular at the local coffee shops, donut shops and senior center where he enjoyed meeting with friends to gossip and exchange stories.

Jimmie is survived by his five children: Rebecca "Becki" Vonasek, Jimmie Wright, Thomas Wright, Deborah "Debbie" Baker, and Brenda Forbyn; 9 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

"Grandpa tell us 'bout the good ol' days"

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to St. Jude Childrens Hospital, Disabled American Veterans or Wounded Warriors Project.