Mark Wright

Mark Wright was born to Ervin F. "Bud" Wright and Beverly Sue (Grist) Wright in Kokomo, IN on October 1, 1958. He passed away on Monday January 13, 2025. He graduated from Kokomo High School in 1977 and over the years accrued credits through Indiana University, most recently receiving a certificate in agronomy from Purdue Univ. in 2023.

In October 1997 he married Susan Gutstein and they moved to Michigan where he worked as a graphics and media technician for the Wayne-Westland Community School District in Ann Arbor. He created announcements for the television stations and filmed the advertising campaigns for the school events.

He had multiple hobbies - received his private pilot’s license, was a fishing guide on Lake Iliamna in Alaska for several summers, played the guitar and mandolin, loved fly fishing and kayaking and was an excellent nature photographer. He worked as a photographer for the Monticello Herald Journal and the Adrian Daily Telegram (Michigan). One of his photographs was chosen for a book cover. He was presented the President’s Award in 2018 by the Literacy Volunteers of White County. He was published in several magazines, most recently in the Indianapolis Monthly on the Zebra Mussel population in the Tippecanoe River. He wrote the article and did the underwater photography as well. He was an administrative educator for the White County Soil and Water Conservation District and educated area youth on protecting pollinators and river stewardship. For the past 5 years he worked for Conagra/Brookston where he was a research technician.

Survivors include his mother, Sue Wright; brother, Greg (Paulette) Wright of Great Falls, MT; former spouse, Susan Wright; uncles Mike (Susie) Wright of Kokomo and Toby Grist (Rhonda) of Van Alstyne, TX; aunts, Sharon Kay Miller of Monticello and Tina Grist Ingalls (Ron) of Center City MN; nieces, Brooke Ivey and Katie Miller of Montana; cousins, Andrew Grist (Autumn), Kelly Ottinger, Megan Reiff (Jake), Jacob Grist, Rachael Hughes, Tiffany Grist, Renae Ingalls Salvia and P.J. Ingalls.

He was preceded in death by infant sister, Vicky Lynn; father, Ervin Wright; grandparents, Max Grist, Sr and Shelia, Jim Paulson and Velma, and E.F. Wright Sr. and Margaret, also by Steve Tedlock, Tyler Grist and uncles, Max Grist, Jr. and Ed Grist.

Funeral services will be at noon on Thursday, January 23, 2025 at Springer-Voorhis-Draper Funeral Home of Monticello with Harold Rutledge officiating. 

Friends may call one hour prior to services on Thursday at the funeral home.

Burial will follow in Shiloh Cemetery in Kokomo.

Friends and family are encouraged to share a photo, a memory, or messages of condolence at www.springervoorhisdraper.com

Springer-Voorhis-Draper Funeral Home of Monticello is entrusted with care.