Pastor Morris O. Wright Obituary
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PASTOR MORRIS O. WRIGHT
Pastor Morris O. Wright D.D, Thd., went home to be with his Lord
and Saviour on Dec. 19, 2009.
He was born in Dundee, Miss., on Sept. 9,
1930, to Earl and Willie Bell Wright. He was the oldest of nine children. At age
17 he enlisted in the Navy on July 7, 1948. He served in China and Japan, and
was in Japan when the Korean War broke out. Pastor Wright served on five naval
vessels. He was transferred to Key West in 1956 and was stationed at the Fleet
Sonar School when he became a Christian. He was honorably discharged in 1958. He
preached in Key West for 2¬½ years and then started the Key West Baptist Temple
in December 1959, which was officially organized in March 1960. Pastor Wright
earned two doctoral degrees through correspondence over a 25-year period. He
pastored the Key West Baptist Temple until his passing. The Key West Baptist
Temple became the largest Independent Baptist Church ever to exist in Key West.
Pastor Wright loved people and longed for the lost to become Christians. He
never held grudges and considered criticism as beneficial in helping him grow as
a Christian. He was president of the Baptist Bible Fellowship of Florida for 11
years. He headed Right to Life in Key West for nine years. He started eight
Baptist churches in his lifetime, all of which are thriving today. He was pastor
of more than 22,000 people during a 50-year period.
Under his ministry, 236 young men became pastors who are
pastoring churches even unto this day. He was principal of the Temple Christian
School from 1964 until 1988, when he had to close the school for health
reasons.
Pastor Wright leaves behind his beloved wife of 26 years, Wanda
Kay Wright; and nine greatly loved children, Donnie, Kathy, Pam, Lynda, Sharon,
Karen, Philip, Brian, and Amy. Seven children are from his marriage with Norma
Powell, and two children he raised when he married Kay. He had eight brothers
and sisters, five still living, and three deceased, along with his mother and
father. He had 25 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren.
He will be
interred in the Veterans Section of the Southern Keys Cemetery on Big Coppitt
Key.
Pastor Wright fought a long and courageous battle with heart
trouble. The family wishes to thank his doctors: Bruce Boros, George Castillo
and Siddartha Venkatappa, of Key West, and Richard Berger, Alejandro Vilasuso
and Francisco Fuentes, of the University of Miami.
A special thanks to
all his members through the years who stood by him and made his successful
ministry possible. His final wishes are that all who do not know the Lord Jesus
Christ as Savior will repent and come unto Jesus and make Him Lord of their
life. One of his favorite hymns was "The Solid Rock" ... "On Christ the Solid
Rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand." His favorite scripture verses
were Proverbs 3: 5-10.
Officiating at the services are Dr. Jerry
Williamson, Dr. Charles Couey and Dr. Bob Ware. Viewing and services will be at
the Key West Baptist Temple, 5727 Second Ave. on Stock Island. Viewing will be 6
to 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 28. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29.
Interment will be private at a later date.
After services on Tuesday,
light refreshments will be served in the adjoining building, Woodson
Hall.
Pastor Wright loved God, his country and the Navy.
I will
see you again my love, my friend, my Pastor, my beloved husband. I learned so
much from you these past 26 years. You are a great man of God who loved to serve
his Lord with all his heart. I loved you and I know you loved me. Always,
Kay.
Arrangements are entrusted to Castillo & Thurston's Key West
Mortuary.