Jay Freeman Wright

Jay Freeman Wright of Aberdeen, age 85, died peacefully on August 11, 2013. He is survived by his daughter and son in law, Jayne Wright and Henry Menke, of North East, son Jay Wright, Jr. of Aberdeen, and son and daughter in law, Webster Wright and Mary Martin of Havre de Grace. He will be deeply missed by his grandchildren, Robert Wright of New York, Alice Menke of North East, and Grant Wright of Havre de Grace. He was predeceased by his wife, Marion vonGunten Wright, and parents, Howard and Mabel Graybeal Wright. Wright was raised on the historic Cranberry Hall farm near Aberdeen. Encouraged by his aunt and uncle, Lee Webster Selfe and Helen Wright Selfe, he developed an interest in business and attended Eaton Burnett Business School in Baltimore. Early on, Wright saw the potential for manufactured housing and was an early innovator in the field. He developed Wrights Mobile Home Village in 1952, the first planned community in Harford County. He served as President of the Maryland Manufactured Housing Association for several years. Freeman enjoyed hunting ducks, geese and quail, and was an excellent shot. He was a star at local turkey shoots, where he used his shotgun, Long Tom, to bring home many prizes. In his later years, Wright nurtured a small flock of Canadian geese, as did his father before him. Wright enjoyed carving waterfowl and won numerous ribbons for his work. He was a supporter of the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum, and spent much of October carving jack o lanterns to decorate the museum. His favorite work was his snake cane, which he always carried, much to the delight of those who saw it. Wright enjoyed the local political scene, and was a regular at County Council meetings for many years. He served on the Harford County draft board during the Vietnam War, and later as President of the Board of Zoning Appeals. Freeman was a graduate of Aberdeen High School and attended West Nottingham Academy. He was a faithful attendee of the monthly luncheons of AHS Class of 1944 and enjoyed spending time with his classmates. Wright was a life time member of Grace United Methodist Church, where he enjoyed the early service and monthly lunches with the Out to Lunch Bunch and the Widows and Widowers groups. Wright was a sixty-four year member of Aberdeen Lodge #187, AF and AM of Maryland and a member of Boumi Temple. At the time of his death, he was the oldest member of the Lodge. Wright served as Worshipful Master in 1973 and led the small team that secured a new building for the Lodge after a fire. Viewings will be held at Tarring-Cargo Funeral Home in Aberdeen on Thursday, August 15 from 1-3 and 5-7, followed by a Masonic service. On Friday morning, a funeral service will be held at Grace Methodist United Church at 11 am, following a 10 am viewing. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Grace United Methodist Church in Aberdeen. Funeral Home: Tarring-Cargo Funeral Home 333 South Parke Street Aberdeen, MD US 21001