William Jay Wright

William Jay Wright, age 91, peacefully passed away with his family by his side on February 21, 2025 after a battle with cancer.

Jay was born in Cedar City, Utah on December 9, 1933, the son of John Peter Wright and Eloise (Schofield) Wright. Jay was raised and attended school in Hiko and Alamo Nevada. Jay loved the FFA program, he was the Nevada State FFA President and went on to become the Pacific Regional Star Farmer. He was elected as the National FFA Vice President representing the Pacific Region from 1954-1955. 

Jay attended Brigham Young University in 1955, where he was a member of BYU’s rodeo and livestock judging teams. In 1956, he was drafted into the U.S. 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, his eternal sweetheart. Jay and Marjorie were married in 1960 and were sealed in the St George, Utah Temple. They eventually became the parents of five children, three boys and two girls. 

During his early married years, Jay worked in the field of agriculture and owned and managed a race horse, Petite Regards. Jay raised 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 inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame for his American Quarter Horse breeding program. 

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. He worked this job until 1969. From 1969 to 1971, Jay operated a couple ranches for the Art Linkletter family, one near Bliss, Idaho and the other in Spring Valley, Nevada. He then was able to start his own cattle operation which was his ultimate goal. He raised his family in Hiko, Nevada while he ranched in southern Nevada. He then went on to own and operate ranches in northern Nevada, Idaho, New Mexico, and Arizona. Jay also worked as a sales representative for Superior Livestock Auction from 2005-2011. 

Jay and Marjorie served as missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the New Mexico Farmington Mission during 2011-2012. Jay and Marjorie also served as temple workers in the Lubbock, TX Temple and in the Snowflake, AZ temple. 

Jay was a great friend, he loved to visit. He had friends wherever he went. He loved his wife dearly, and they were great partners in marriage as well as business. His children were blessed to learn from his great work ethic, his love for God, and his integrity. As a Grandpa, he had an infectious smile and laugh and lots of hugs. His family brought him the greatest joy. 

William Jay is a cherished husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, and a 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 daughter-in-law, Julie (Brad) Wright-Leggett of Jerome, Idaho, his children, Sonja (Kenneth) Firmage of Eagle Idaho, John (Stephanie) Wright of Twin Falls, Idaho, Jeanne (Brian) Higbee of Spanish Fork, Utah, and Flint (Jamie) Wright of Cottonwood, Arizona, 14 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Eloise, his son Jeffrey, grandson Garrett, his two sisters, Lorene and Ina, and his brother Kay. 

A viewing will be held on Saturday, March 1, 2025, 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Crystal Springs Chapel, 49 N. Purple Sage Avenue, Alamo, NV 89017, with Funeral services at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at the Hiko Cemetery, Cannon Ranch Road, Hiko, NV 89017. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in their Guest Book at www.moapavalleymortuary.com.

A live-stream will be available at the William Jay Wright Memorial Facebook Group.