Marion "Pat" Wright

Marion "Pat" F. Wright, 75, passed away November 30, 2019. A visitation will be held from 1-2 PM, service 2 PM, on Thursday, December 5, at Longview Funeral Home, 12700 SE Raytown Rd, Kansas City, MO 64149. Burial will follow at Longview Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, https://www.cancer.org/involved/donate.html or American Lung Association, https://www.lung.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/

Dad was born St. Patrick’s Day 1944 in San Bernardino, California, the second of nine children. He grew up in Kansas City and Graduated from Westport High School in 1962.He joined the Marines and served in Vietnam from 1963-1965, honorably discharged as Corporal.

He returned home and went to work at Armco Steel, retiring only when the company, under the name GST Steel, ceased operations in 2001. He was very proud to be a union steel worker. He refused to cross any strike picket lines of any union and as much as possible to purchase foreign products. He was so mad when his beloved Levi’s were no longer made in the USA.

He loved cars, Chevy and Studebaker specifically. He loved working on them, collecting them, and driving them fast (he just got a speeding ticket a few months ago!) He was very much like Uncle Gary was with roadside finds, homeless Sanford & Sons stuff that hollered “Gary!” when they saw him coming. Dad dragged home from Grandma Faye’s farm in Cabool a big hunk of rust with no interior that at one point in its life had been a car. It was such an eye sore. I’m sure the house cried to have it in her driveway.

He was a longtime member of the Studebaker club and they are part of his car collection. For most of his life he had very specific expectations of himself and those around him. But as he got older he mellowed a lot.  He got easier to talk to and I am glad because he gave me a lot of good advice and words of wisdom. We also got a lot closer as well.

He was very generous and would gladly help those he loved with no questions asked. He didn’t give loans, he gave gifts and you were never expected to return them. He was also very generous with his sharp analytical, very wise mind. He helped so many, giving them tools to find their way on their own with a little guidance and a lot of love.

He was preceded in death by his Mother June, Father Merle, Sister Shirley, Brothers Jeff, Gary, Carl, and Kevin. He is survived by his wife Julie, Daughters Melissa and Jessica, Grandchildren Cole & Brennan, Stepchildren Kurtis & Jess with her children Jocelyn & Marston, Brother Mike, Sisters Lynn & Cheryl and numerous nieces and nephews. He shared a very special bond with his brother Gary. Since Gary’s Death he has taken his children, Christopher and Dawn under his wing loving and supporting them as his own children. Dad, Husband, Grandpa, Uncle, Brother, and friend. You are missed more than words can say.

Love you Dad,

Punkin