Obituaries 06/10/21

Mickey Ray Smith
COFFEEVILLE – Mickey Ray Smith of Coffeeville, died Saturday, June 5, 2021, at his home. He was 69.
Mickey was born August 1, 1951, in Sacramento, Calif. to the late Jack and Melba Smith. During the period of 1967 to 1972 during Vietnam, Mickey served our country in the United States Army as a communications specialist. He enjoyed fishing, tinkering on different kinds of things, painting, and his dogs, which were a particular passion.
The family is planning a memorial service at a later date. Mickey is survived by one daughter, Tonya Thomas of Water Valley; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Along with his parents, Mickey was preceded in death by one daughter, Candy K. Smith.

John Clay Wright
Dr. John Clay Wright, died on Sunday, May 30, 2021. He was born June 18, 1922, in Trimble, Tenn., to Doctor Leonard and Sally Davidson Wright. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 73 years, Carolyn Graves Wright; four brothers, Lindley Wright, Dr. Leonard Wright, Thomas Wright, James Wright; one sister, Sarah Wright Clark; and his son-in-law, George Kell, Jr.
He is survived by his five children, Carolyn Wright Kell of Newport, Sally Wright Davis (Mel) of Little Rock, John Clay Wright, Jr., of Schenectady, New York, James Harry Wright (Rose) of Dusan, La., and David Armisted Wright of Fayetteville.
After graduating from Trimble High School in 1940, Dr. Wright attended Memphis State University where he met his future wife, Carolyn Graves. Dr. Wright served his country in the United States Navy during World War Two. After the war, he married Carolyn and entered medical school at the University of Tennessee Medical School in Memphis, Tenn. He finished his residency and the couple moved the family to Water Valley to open a general medicine practice. After five years in Mississippi, Dr. Wright accepted a position at the Harris Hospital in Newport, Ark., where he practiced for 30 years alongside his nurse, Mrs. Juanita Luter.
Dr. Wright was an active member of the First United Methodist Church, where he was a lay preacher, a Sunday School teacher, and a long time member of the choir. He served on the Newport Special School District for many years and was a member of the Rotary Club. He loved the game of golf, duplicate bridge and the Arkansas Razorbacks!
Visitation was held at the funeral home on Wednesday, June 2. Graveside services followed on Thursday at Watson Cemetery.