On April 5, 2023, John Wright MD, age 90, departed his life on earth for his heavenly home. A former resident of Elizabethtown, Dr. Wright, most commonly known as Jack, resided in Cox's Creek, KY. He was a retired Colonel from the United States Army Reserves. Dr. Wright practiced ophthalmology for over 25 years in Elizabethtown and surrounding communities. His practice included pediatric and adult patients for routine eye exams, treatment of conditions of the eye, including surgical procedures such as cataract surgery, including phacoemulsification, implantation of intraocular lenses, glaucoma surgery, corneal transplantation. He performed some of the first lens implantations during cataract surgery in Kentucky in the early 70's. This allowed the patients to see without the traditional "coke bottle" lenses in their glasses. Dr. Wright's enthusiasm for the advances in ophthalmology surgery kept him advancing his education to keep up with the latest equipment and techniques that he could provide for his patients. In retirement, Jack worked for Wal-Mart in Bardstown in the Vision Center practicing medical ophthalmology. John Wright (Jack), was born in Baltimore MD. June 4, 1932 to Roy John & Karolyn Wright. Jacks father worked for the TVA which caused the family to live across the south during his childhood. In grade school, Jack realized that his name was really John and he had no middle name. Grade school teachers could not tolerate this omission. In his constant humor, he explained that his middle name was Bosco in order to complete the grade school diploma to suit. (Bosco being the name of a common chocolate drink of that era.) Jack though claimed Hammond LA as his hometown since he spent his high school years there and still had strong ties to loved ones of that community. His military service began in 1950 when he joined the Air Force as a one-striper. This led him to the Korean War in Koonson with the Air Sea Rescue Squad. He always joked that the day after he left Korea, the Korean War officially ended in 1953. Col. John Wright, after 20 years of service, officially retired from the United States Army Reserves on May 25, 1994 in St. Louis, MO. Even before Jack left his initial military service, he was already actively attending college with the goal of becoming a doctor. When his military service ended, he enrolled at Louisiana State University for his undergraduate classes at Baton Rouge. He finished his Bachelor of Science degree in January 1958 and moved right into Medical School. Due to the efforts of the former Gov. Huey P. Long of LA, the tuition for undergrad studies and Medical School for state residents was minimal. The LSU Medical School was then located in New Orleans and he worked many hours at Charity Hospital there. Jack graduated from LSU Medical School in 1962. He completed his residency at Tulane Medical Center, also in New Orleans in 1964. At this point, he resumed his career with the Air Force. His assignments included Lackland Air Force Base, Tyndall Air Force Base and later Tachikawa Japan, near Tokyo for a 3-year stint as a Major in the Air Force caring for those at the base as well as flying recovery missions to Vietnam to bring soldiers home from the conflict. Dr. Wright began his medical practice in Elizabethtown in 1971 sharing an office with Dr. Larry Hall. Later they both moved to Helmwood Medical Center. Jack held numerous professional roles at Hardin Memorial Hospital, Elizabethtown Surgical Center and later HealthSouth Surgical Center. One of his favorite roles was providing education in local high schools regarding health and preparing them for their athletic roles. While Jack was a left-hander, he wrote left handed, shot a gun right handed but in the operating room, he was ambidextrous using both his right and left hand to manage the intricate eye surgery and its instrumentation. Jack was a fan of the New York Yankees as a result of his Mother's long love of the team in the 1930's. In high school, his athletic prowess was seen in his track records and winning a Beloved Golden track shoe in high school. Even in the late 40's, basketball fans in the South already knew of the Great Kentucky Wildcats. He often recalled listening to games on the radio with his father. But when it came to football, there was only one team!! The LSU TIGERS were his team from teenage years until his death! He loved telling the stories of being a Boy Scout usher at Tiger Stadium. And luck would have it, Jack was a spectator in the stadium as in 1959 when the outstanding halfback, Billy Cannon took a punt return for 89 yards to score a touch down against Ole Miss! This gave Billy Cannon the Heisman trophy! GEAUX TIGERS!! Jack used to joke about the fact that his life revolved around eyeballs and golf balls. He played left-handed golf across the US and overseas, where ever a course was in driving/flying distance. Golfing accomplishments include the following: Doe Valley Golf Course, Club champion for numerous years, 1971 to 1984. Founder of the Kentucky Left-Handed Golf Assn. 1986 Founding member of Valhalla Golf Club, July, 1984 While Jack had numerous golfing buddies through the years, Hershel Finney of Crestwood was one of his lifelong friends and buddies. The golf stories are endless in Jack' life!! Jack loved bird hunting, especially quail hunting with his son, Kevin and daughter Madja. While he was a good shot, he enjoyed watching his beloved bird dogs hunt. Many times, he would have someone go along and take pictures of the dogs hunting and point, rather than shoot the gun. Jack hunted deer with Kevin and the Mackeys on several different farms. One of his biggest hunting adventures came by chance. He was playing golf at Valhalla with Denny Crum, the U of L basketball coach back then. Denny was preparing to leave in a couple of weeks for a bear hunting trip to Alaska and was notified that one of his travel friends would be unable to go on this much-awaited trip. He had already paid most of the fees for the junket that were non-refundable. Denny invited Jack to join him and the rest of the group. Within 24 hours, Jack was packing for Alaska. While he did not kill a bear on the trip while Denny did, the group had a great 10-day tour and experience in Alaska. Upon arrival at Standiford Field, as they exited the plane with a team from CNN, they were all talking about the Carrollton Bus crash and the loss of children from Radcliff, having heard the details from the CNN team while traveling. Jack loved his homes and property. From his time in the South, he loved to name his homes, having left in his legacy homes by such names as The JK Ranch, Maple Hall, Belechere (Port St. Joe, FL) and Royal note in Cox's Creek KY. The last 2 homes he actually designed while the other homes he spent time renovating and adding additions! His father was an architect! Jack had a love for trees, especially evergreens. At every home he planted too many trees for the space and then took efforts to move them to save them. In his last days, the recent wind storms and gusts would have caused him much dismay as several pines blew down. Jack was preceded in death most recently by his youngest daughter, Madja Wright; his parents and siblings, Dr. Larry Wright, Roy Wright, and Kitty Rae of Hammond. Survivors include his wife of over 40 years, AnneRae Mackey Wright of Cox's Creek; his children, Monique Hanna of Elizabethtown and Kevin (Debbie Ferrante) of Cox's Creek; AnneRae's daughter, Jennifer Galvin Fulford (Don) of Perryville, MO; his grandchildren, Drew Hanna of Louisville, Austin and Carley Fulford of Perryville, MO. He is also survived by the former Mary Lou Kinser of Elizabethtown, the mother of his children; one sister, Peggy Price of Marietta, GA; and one brother, Dr. Terry Wright (Mary Ann) of Johnson City, TX. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 8, 2023 at Brown Funeral Home in Elizabethtown with Bobby Olliges officiating. Burial follows in Elizabethtown Memorial Gardens. Visitation is Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. and continues after 9 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to Hospice of Nelson County or the Kentucky Organ Donor Association. Condolences may be expressed online at brownfuneral.com.

Visitation:

Friday, April 7, 2023 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Brown Funeral Home

Saturday, April 8, 2023 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Brown Funeral Home

Service:

Saturday, April 8, 2023 starting at 11:00 AM
Brown Funeral Home