Duane Alan Wright

Duane Alan Wright

1961-2022

On Sunday, January 23, 2022, Duane Alan Wright passed away. He was surrounded by friends and family in Guthrie, Oklahoma. He has entered into the presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Duane was born in Memphis, Tennessee to Paul and Barbara Wright on September 13, 1961. He completed his formal education with a high school diploma from Horn Lake High School in Horn Lake, Mississippi.

Duane married the love of his life, Dayla, whom he referred to exclusively as “Red” on April 1, 1995. His proudest accomplishments in his life were his children. He would tell stories of his kids to any restaurant server or cancer center nurse who would slow down long enough to listen. He would thank God every night in his prayers for his kids, their spouses, and his beautiful bride. Duane found his true calling when his oldest grandchild, Dlorah, was born. From then on, he would be known as “G-Pa” to a growing tribe of little people. He loved his babies and bragged on them even more than he did with his kids. In his later years, his favorite thing to do was to spend time making memories with his grandkids, and to feed them cheetos when their parents weren’t around. He would often say of his grandchildren that there wasn’t a bad-looking kid in the bunch.

When he wasn’t in the garage or driveway working on his next project, Duane could be found at Home Depot, looking for a new toy or really anything that he could get them to price match. He knew how to fix anything, and if he didn’t know, he would learn. He especially loved fixing things for his friends and family. In 2016, he started a business called The Wright Touch. He and Dayla would refurbish and repurpose old furniture, doors, or anything else he could think of a new and creative use for.

In 2005, he began attending Henderson Hills Baptist Church in Edmond, Oklahoma. He remained a member of that church until his death. He and Dayla spent eight years teaching small groups in the high school ministry. Duane was sincere and transparent with everyone he met, and loved to tell the testimony of the pain and foolishness which defined his early life, and the transformation that Jesus had worked in him. Duane was left on his own in this world at age seventeen, when his mother died. He wanted to make sure no one who crossed his path ever felt like they were alone. He regularly hosted friends, small groups, and parties in his home, and treated everyone who entered with dignity. Of course, he also never passed up a chance to make fun of them to their face, either.

Duane was a man’s man. He had big, manly hands and a tough exterior. He looked like one bad dude. But on the inside, he had a servant’s heart, soft towards the sinners and sufferers around him. He will be dearly missed.

Duane is preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Barbara and his brother, Robert. He is survived by his wife, Dayla, his daughter Christy Youngblood and wife Emy, his son William and wife Kathleen, his daughter Elizabeth Daniel and husband Adam, his son Jacob and wife Abby, and his grandchildren: Dlorah, Elias, Emma, Erin, Rocky, Gunner, Maizy, and Joelle. He was looking forward to meeting his granddaughter Stevie, due in March. He also leaves behind his sisters, Pat and Lenita, and his brother Wes and wife Linda, and their children.

Visitation with the family greeting friends will be held from 5-7 p.m., Thursday, January 27th at Matthews Funeral Home. Services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, January 28, 2022 at Henderson Hills Baptist Church.

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