Morton Silas Wright

Mr. Morton S. Wright, age 76, of Makanda, formerly Anna, passed at 7:17 p.m. Saturday, June 17, 2017 in Houston Methodist-Willowbrook Hospital in Houston, TX.He was born in Karnak, IL on May 1, 1941, the son of Paul and Bernetta (Reed) Wright. He married the love of his life, Kathleen (Wicker) Wright of Steeleville, IL, on June 18, 1965, with whom they shared 52 years of marriage. Morton, receiving his B.S. in Social Studies and Masters in Structural Materials from SIU started his career as a pre-college counselor in the Admissions office at his alma-mater. He then advanced his career through positions at Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, KY and Jefferson College in Festus, MO. As part of the community college movement in Illinois during the 1960s, Morton was hired as part of the original administration staff at Shawnee Community College in Ullin, IL in 1969. He advanced to Vice President over his 35 years at the college and was most proud of his accomplishments as an integral part of the development of the new campus moving the original college from its metal buildings, building the original library, leading Shawnee Community College to gain North Central Accreditation, working with the federal government to achieve multiple grants for the college, assuming the role of athletic director and lastly, setting up a satellite campus in Metropolis, IL. His hobbies included golf with family and friends, working out in the yard, growing his vegetable garden and tending to the land he recently bought next to house clearing the underbrush and thinning the trees to make it a park-like setting. His love of trees is evident in their yard with the planting of over 52 oak trees of different varieties. He loved being outdoors and admiring all the wonderful creations of God. Morton is survived by his wife, Kathleen Wright; son Daniel Keith Wright, and daughter-in-law Linda Kay Wright, of Houston, TX; son Aaron Thomas Wright, and daughter-in-law Mika Dawn Wright of Cape Girardeau, MO; sisters Robbie Lowe Taylor, of Metropolis, IL and Sherry Lynn Felker, of Karnak, IL; brother Bobby Joe Wright, of Karnak, IL; grandchildren Nicole Madison Wright and Trenton Scot Wright, of Houston, TX and Cooper Truman Senciboy and Hendrix Leland Wright of Cape Girardeau, MO. He will be sadly missed by all the relatives and friends that knew him. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Phyllis Heisner Spurlock of Carterville, IL. Morton was a member of Mouth Moriah Lutheran Church in Anna. He was a faithful member since 1971 and has previously served as President of the church counsel and Sunday School teacher. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Friday, June 23, 2017 in the Mt. Moriah Lutheran Church with Pastor Mark Hasty officiating. Interment will be in the Immanuel Lutheran Church West Point Cemetery in Campbell Hill. Friends may call from 5 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, June 22, 2017 in the Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Anna. Memorial contributions may be made to Mt. Moriah Lutheran Church. Envelopes will be available in the Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home and at the church. Visitation Service Thursday, June 22, 2017,5:00PM-8:00PM Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Homes 301 West Spring Street Anna, Illinois 62906 Memorial/Funeral Service Friday, June 23, 2017,11:00AM Mt. Moriah Lutheran Church 100 W. Jefferson St. Anna, Illinois 62906 Cemetery Service Friday, June 23, 2017, Immanuel Lutheran Church West Point Cemetery Campbell Hill, Illinois