Col. Gerald Lee Wright

(Ret.) Colonel Gerald Lee Wright passed away peacefully in Edmond, Oklahoma on Sunday, April 12, 2026, of natural causes. He was 89 years old and was surrounded by people who loved him very much.

Gerald was born on a farm on May 13, 1936, near Hurley, Missouri to Mary and Kenneth Wright. His early years were spent on the dairy farm before he moved to Springfield, Missouri to enter the sixth grade and later graduated from Central Senior High School in Springfield in 1954. Gerald attended Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy in Rolla, Missouri and graduated in 1958 with a BS Degree in Civil Engineering. He bragged that most of his professional life he was a DAM engineer! Gerald earned his MPA degree from Shippenburg State College in Shippensburg, PA in 1982. He became a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Oklahoma in 1964, PE 6313. Gerald worked on many projects for the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation including; Glen Canyon Dam and associated bridge in Page, Arizona; Mountain Park Dam and Reservoir, Atoka, Oklahoma; McGee Creek Dam and Reservoir, Atoka, Oklahoma; Thunderbird Reservoir, Norman, Oklahoma; Arbuckle Dam and Reservoir, Sulphur, Oklahoma; Cheney Dam and Reservoir, Wichita, Kansas; major renovations of the San Angelo Dam and Reservoir, San Angelo, Texas.

Gerald served as Area Manager for the Great Plains Region (Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, and New Mexico); Leadership and Development of the Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Regional Planning Officer for the Southwest Region, Amarillo, Texas; Chief of Planning and Technical Service for the MidPacific Region, Sacramento, California. Gerald spent 37 years in planning, designing, construction, operation, and maintenance of dams with the Bureau of Reclamation. He also spent five years as Public Works Director and City Engineer for the City of Warr Acres, Oklahoma, and sixteen years as Superintendent of Oklahoma County Highway District 3.

Because of his love of country Gerald enlisted in the Army Reserves on his 18th birthday as a private. Two years later (1958) he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in United States Army Reserves. During the next twenty years he rose to the rank of Colonel and in 1981 was selected to attend the United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania and graduated in 1982. Gerald was proud of being one of seven reservists in the United States to be selected to attend the Army War College. While attending the Army War College Gerald attended and graduated from Shippensburg State College, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania in 1982 with an MPS Degree.

Colonel served as the Commandant for the 4166 USAR School in Lubbock, TX.; Brigade Commander for the 3rd Brigade, 95th Division, Stillwater, OK; Battalion Commander for the 3d Bn,3d Bde (AIT), 95th Division, Shawnee, OK. and Platoon leader in OKC, OK; Blackwell, OK; and Fort Leonard Wood, MO.

Colonel Wright earned many medals for exemplary service including the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Meritorious Service Medal. He will be remembered as a hardworking person and a patriot individual who loved his country and what it stood for.

Gerald was proceeded in death by his mother, Mary W. Garoutte, stepfather James Willard Garoutte, father Kenneth A. Wright and stepmother Alice Wright; and his stepdaughter Lori Ann Blackburn. He is survived by his best friend and loving and caring wife of 45 years Gayla (Susie); son Gregory L. Wright (Patricia), Teton Village, Wyoming and their sons; Rev.Grant Wildwright (Joclyn), Little Rock, Arkansas, and Gage Wright,(Paige), Jersey City, NJ; son Scott A. Wright and wife Stacy of OKC,OK; and their children, Blake Wright (Megan), Shawnee, OK; Alexandria Jewel Griffith (Gabe), Edmond, OK; and Harrison Wright, OKC,OK; daughter Laurie Delaine Hammons (Mark), Yukon, OK and their sons Cole Hammons(Lila), OKC, OK; Collier (Chandler), OKC, OK; Mark Jr.(Winnie), Paris, France; and Dale, OKC, OK; stepdaughter Leslie Ann Corlee, Edmond, OK and son Dr. Bryce Corlee (Lexi), Yukon, OK; and children of deceased stepdaughter Lori Blackburn include Jeff Delaney, Anadarko, OK; Lindsay Beaty, Edmond, OK; and Emily Beaty (Desi), Norman, OK.

Great-Grandchildren include: Graham Wright, Gavin Wright, JB Wright (Buster), Walker Griffith, Emmy Hammons, Emilia Corlee, Raegan Delaney, Kali Beaty, and Brynlee Beaty.

Family time was always fun for Gerald trips to the mountains, family dinners, and just being with kids! He loved taking a cruise or relaxing in the city of Paris! Gerald was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. He was Precious and will be missed by so many!

The family would like to give a special thank you to Ginger Newman for her many hours of caring for Gerald; to Dr. Brian Levy for always being available to help us and to many caring friends and neighbors. Thank you Jim and Genelle Koelsch for your love and kindness and always being on call when needed. God bless you.

Public visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with family present to greet friends and guests. Services will be held on Thursday, April 16, 2026, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the Matthews Funeral Home Chapel in Edmond, OK. Interment will be held following the service beginning at 1:30 p.m. at Kingfisher Cemetery in Kingfisher, OK.