Roy Patrick Wright

Roy "Mike" Patrick Wright, May 25, 1940 to December 31, 2017 Roy "Mike" Patrick Wright passed away in the morning of December 31,2017, New Years Eve. He was with friends and loved ones. He was 77 years old. There will be a Military Service for Roy at the Veteran's Memorial Cemetery in Eagle Point, Oregon at 9am on Friday January 12, 2017. Later that day in the afternoon there will be a Celebration of Life and Reception. The location and exact time to be announced later. Roy was born in Anaconda, Montana to Roy Peter Wright and Mable Evelyn Walsh Wright on May 25, 1940. His elder sister, Dorothy "Arleen" was already one years old. At a young age the family moved to Portland, Oregon. During World War II his mother, Mable, was employed at the Keiser Shipyards along the Willamette River helping out with the war effort. His father, Roy, senior, was a driver for Radio Cab Company in Portland until he retired. Roy attended All Saints and St. Stevens Grade Schools and Central Catholic High School. In 1957, he enlisted in the United States Army. He was stationed at Air Force Bases in South Dakota and Maine. He returned to Portland after the Service and in 1962 married the girl next door, Jean Plott Wright (Work). Together they had five children: Roy Patrick, Mary Lee, Deborah Marie, Catherine Lorraine, Michael Remy. They remained married until the late 1970s. After military service, Roy was employed by Standard Oil and the Jackson County Assessor's Office. He returned to college to study Business and Economics at Southern Oregon University. In 1978, he started his own Real Estate Appraisal business, Roy Wright Appraisal Service. A business he would continue until his death. He was active in local politics and was a member of Rotary International for almost 40 years. He taught Real Estate Appraisal courses across the country for more than 30 years. In his 50's, Roy was reunited with his love for dancing. He started with Tap dancing, dabbled in Swing, Salsa, and even Ballet. Finally, settling on Tango as his true love. He danced for a number of years in the Rogue Valley's Holiday production of the Nutcracker Ballet. In 2000, the year he turned 60, he immersed himself in Tango. He put his Real Estate Appraisal Business on hold and moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina for 3 months. In Buenos Aires, he trained with the World's best Tango Masters. He returned to the Rogue Valley and would teach thousands of Tango students over the next 17 years, locally, nationally, and in Mexico. He and another Tango teacher, Clay Nelson, started Ashland's own Tango Festival, Turkey Tango. Roy has done guest appearances at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Green Show featuring Tango Dancers from around the World. Roy is survived by his children, Mary Lee Wright (John Runyon) of Portland, Catherine Wright (Anthony Uribe) of Grants Pass, and Michael Remy Wright (Debbie Kosmatka Wright) of Medford. His sister, Dorothy "Arleen" Curths (Ron Curths) of Powell Butte, Oregon and his nephew Randy Curths. Roy has 10 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son Roy Patrick Wright, his daughter Deborah Marie Wright, nephews Ronald Michael Curths and Jason Lee Plotts, and his parents Roy Peter Wright and Mable Evelyn Walsh Wright. Instead of flowers, the famiy asked that you make a charitable contribution in the name of Roy "Mike" Patrick Wright, to the American Lung Association, your local Humane Society, or a Charitable Organization of your choice.