Clarence Wright, a lifelong resident of the Webster and Fountain Green communities, met death very suddenly and unexpectedly Tuesday evening, August 19, 1952 about 5:30 o'clock in a head-on auto collision on U. S. Highway 136 some 4 miles east of Carthage, Ill.

Mr. Wright was born at Webster, December 25, 1885, the son of Skelt and Hettie (Winney) Wright, his age being 66 years, 7 months and 24 days.

His boyhood days were spent in the Webster vicinity where he received his education in the public school.

In April 1907* he was married to Miss Grace Beryle McGee of Fountain Green

To this union was born one daughter, Genevieve, now Mrs. Ivan Latherow of Fountain Green. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wright were deeply devoted to this only daughter, and gave her every advantage within their power to bestow.  They were equally devoted to and proud of their two grandchildren, Corporal Robert L. Latherow now with the 25th Infantry of the U. S. Army attached to the Inspector Generals Office, serving in Korea and Miss Carolyn Latherow of Fountain Green.

In addition to the daughter and son-in-law, Mr. Wright is survived by one brother, Gay Wright of near La Harpe, and three sisters, Mrs. J. C. Whitten of Fountain Green, Mrs. Harvey Long of Bushnell and Mrs. Ralph Weir of Macomb.  He was preceded in death by one brother who died in infancy, his father who passed away many years ago, his mother in 1942 and his wife, who passed on in January of this year.

Having always been interested in machinery, and being quite skillful as a mechanic, Clarence or "Goody" as he has long been familiarly known to family and friends, while quite a young man found employment as an engineer with various threshing crews in the days when grain was harvested with threshing machines powered by steam engines.  Shortly after automobiles came into vogue his mechanical ability was directed toward a job as mechanic in a local garage, this leading to his later operating a garage of his own for a number of years.

Some twenty-five years ago he became an employee of the Hancock County Highway Department, a position he held ever since.  During all these years he has been one of the departments most dependable employees, being on the job practically everyday until his wife's serious illness last winter forced him to remain away from work for a few weeks.  In his spare time he cared for his lawn and garden, keeping both in perfect condition.

Not only was Mr. Wright a very industrious person, he was also a faithful husband and father and a good neighbor of a guiet and unassuming nature, his main interests were his work and his home, his only outside interest being that of school director, a position which he held for quite a number of years.

This community has been greatly saddened during the past two weeks by at least four deaths of people well known here.

The sudden and tragic death of Clarence Wright and Chellis Hainline in the terrible auto wreck on U. S. Highway 136 some four and one-half miles east of Carthage just two weeks ago was a great shock to everyone.  Mr. Miller of Elvaston, who was killed in the same wreck was likewise well known to many in this community.  The funerals of all three of these men were attended by large crowds of friends and relatives with many beautiful flowers at each funeral.

Just a few days after the death of the wreck victims, two other men who had spent many years of their lives in this neighborhood passed on, namely Silas Conn of the Majorville vicinity on August 21 and Frank Wright of Macomb, the following day, August 22.  Both had been in poor health for some time.  Funeral services and interment for both men were held at Majorville with a large number of friends, relatives and former neighbors attending.

We extend sympathy to the families of all of these men who have been called away from their homes in such rapid succession in recent weeks.

*Grace and Goody were married April 20, 1908.