Duane E. Wright

On May 20, 2024 Duane Everett Wright passed away during heart surgery at Coos Bay, Oregon.

Duane was born December 5, 1934 to parents, William and Wilma Wright, joining two brothers. In 1937 the dust bowl caused them to leave Kansas and move to Oregon. They built a house up Gold Creek near Willamina. Shortly after another brother was to join the family.

Duane walked to school at Gold Creek, which was only a one-room holding all eight grades. After graduating grade school, he attended Willamina High School, where he had the honor of being state champion javelin thrower. After graduating, he joined the U.S. Army as the Korean War was going on. He was a Sergeant and worked for a Colonel in classified information. After an honorable discharge from the Army, he married Joyce Lambert of Willamina, Oregon on June 15, 1957. The next day they drove to Coos Bay, Oregon, where Duane had a job working at Coos Head Plywood. He retired from there after 30 years employment. He was proud to be one of the men to get a pension for Coos Head employees. He then went to work for Oregon State Parks and retired from there. He and Joyce had three children, Mark, Darren and Connie.

Duane was an avid hunter and fisherman. He taught his children how to hunt and fish at an early age.

Duane leaves behind his wife, Joyce; son, Darren of Roseburg, Oregon; daughter, Connie and son-in-law, Stuart Mitchell of North Bend, Oregon; four grandchildren, Jesse and Shannon Wright of Roseburg, Oregon and Thomas and Jacob Mitchell of North Bend, Oregon.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers; son, Mark and daughter-in-law, Teresa Wright.

Graveside service with military honors will be held at 2pm, Friday, May 31 at Ocean View Memory Gardens,1525 Ocean Boulevard NW in Coos Bay with Pastor Mark Schiro officiating. 

Arrangements are under the care of Coos Bay Chapel, 541-267-3131 www.coosbayareafunerals.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Duane E. Wright, please visit our floral store.