Myra Evelyn Wright

Myra Evelyn Branton Wright was born in Tylertown, MS, Feb. 21, 1929, and moved to Gulfport at an early age. She lived a full 95 precious years and went to sleep peacefully surrounded by family at the home of nieces Karen Buehler and Chrissy Hansen, May 25, 2024. Myra was preceded in death by her husband, James D. Wright; parents Zollie L. Branton and Effie Ginn Keenum; and sister Yvonne Branton Strangi Henry. Myra is survived by her sister Billie Milligan, Oklahoma City, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was a proud graduate of Gulfport High School’s Class of 1946 and kept in touch with classmates throughout her lifetime. Myra was instrumental in organizing class reunions throughout the years and enjoyed monthly luncheons with classmates until COVID hit.

A proud civil servant, Myra started her Federal career at Keesler Air Force base and had the opportunity to serve with many Federal agencies including tours at Ft. Polk; Redstone Arsenal; 8th Army, Seoul, South Korea; and USAREUR, Heidelberg, Germany; before culminating her career as a personnel staffing specialist with the Vicksburg District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

An avid traveler, Myra’s career and her personal love of adventure afforded her the opportunity to see, experience and share the many cultures, beauty, and wonders of the world around her. She soaked it all in, appreciated it, embraced differences, and realized their significance, and she shared those experiences with loved ones. Always. She was unapologetically the most compassionate, generous, kind, trusting and loving human. She was one of God’s Earth Angels.

Myra had so many hobbies she enjoyed from jitterbugging at the Gulfport Community Center and Yacht Club with the troops in the 40s to becoming a ‘pretty decent’ bowler (as she would say) lofting a 12 lb, hot-pink, marbled ball down some of the best tournament lanes in the country. Following retirement, Myra moved back home to Gulfport, just so she could travel some more, organize family trips, and love on family. She loved the casinos where you could find her at a card table, and luck was usually on her side.

But anyone that knew Myra knew that her greatest passion were animals. In addition to caring for her own menagerie she was a constant feeder of ferals! It was not unusual at all for her to feed up to 25 neighborhood cats a day, twice a day, wet and dry…they didn’t do without. Because of this, the family asks that in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a local animal shelter.

The family also wishes to recognize the wonderful staff at Deaconess Home Health. From home health services to palliative and then hospice care, they were absolutely with us every step of the way. We are forever appreciative of their constant and compassionate attention.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, June 1, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. until the 1:00 p.m. funeral service at Riemann Family Funeral Home, 13872 Lemoyne Blvd. in West Jackson County. Interment will follow at Southern Memorial Park Cemetery in Biloxi.

The Riemann Family Funeral Home, 13872 Lemoyne Blvd., in West Jackson County is serving the family.  Memories, condolences, and photos can be share by visiting our website at www.riemannfamily.com