Andy Wright

Andy Wright, of the Tugian clan (White Water), was born in Bylas, Arizona on Monday, July 21, 1931 to George & Sara (Goseyun) Wright. At a traditional Apache sunrise dance in Peridot, Arizona, Andy tipped his hat and asked for a dance from his favorite dance partner; Linda Casoose. He soon married Linda at the Globe Justice of the Peace in Globe, Arizona in the late 1940s and through their 65+ years of marriage, had 6 children: Lorena (Wright) Williams, Manuel Wright, Danford Wright, Beverly (Wright) Cosay, Yolanda (Wright) Longstreet and Terold Wright. To provide for his wife and family, Andys first place of employment was as a ranch hand for the San Carlos Apache Ash Creek Ranch and then as a Janitor for the Fort Thomas Elementary School for 7+ years in Fort Thomas, Arizona. Andy retried after 25+ years at the now Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Miami Mine & Processing Facilities (aka Inspiration, Cypress). During times of mine layoffs due to the fluctuation in copper prices, Andy sought employment with the Saw Mills in Eagar, Arizona. After retirement, Andy continued to work for the San Carlos Apache Ash Creek Cattle Association repairing fences and corrals. Andy attended the Bylas Day School but later withdrew after completing the 10th grade to purse his aspirations of being a cowboy working with livestock on the beautiful lands of the San Carlos Apache. Andy was a renound calf roper and team roper and returned home with numerous cash awards and jackpots from the rodeos he participated in. Andy not only represented the community of Bylas in his roping adventures, but he also represented the San Carlos Apache Tribe and Graham County at the annual Navajo Nation Fair & Rodeo, White Mountain Apache Tribe Fair & Rodeo, Salt River Indian Community Fair & Rodeo and at various rodeos in Flagstaff, Casa Grande, and Tucson with his favorite quarter horse named Peanuts. But most importantly Andy loved to participate in the locals held in Globe, Pima and Safford and at the annual Mt. Turnbull Fair & Rodeo, San Carlos Apache Veterans Fair & Rodeo and at other tribal rodeos in San Carlos, Cedar Creek & Turkey Creek. Andy was an avid fan of the outdoors and was known by his grandchildren to only come inside the house to eat and sleep. His nieces and nephews cannot remember a time when they saw their beloved uncle without his cowboy hat on and has come to be known in the Rainbow City neighborhood and community of Bylas as the Old Cowboy. Andy enjoyed the company of his family and loved hearing the footsteps of his grandchildren running around his house and was proud of their many achievements in and out of the rodeo arena. He provided much encouragement and support to his family and viewed his nieces and nephews as his own children and his many cousins as his own brother(s) and sister(s) and treated them as such. The love, generosity and heartfelt teachings of our beloved father, grandfather and uncle will be sorely missed and never forgotten. Through his hard work to provide for his family, his priority of attention to his family and his love of the outdoors, he has passed on his legacy to believe and depend on yourself as an individual and to love and care for all walks of life, especially your own family. Andy is survived by his wife; Linda (Casoose) Wright, children; Danford Wright, Beverly (Wright) Cosay and Terold Wright, Verdell Harvey & Aaron Dosela, 23 grandchildren, 42 great grandchildren & 4 great great-grandchildren. Andy is preceded in death by his parents; George & Sara (Goseyun) Wright, children; Lorena (Wright) Williams, Manuel Wright & Yolanda (Wright) Longstreet, grandchildren Vernon Wright, Donovan Williams Sr. and Jonathan Wright and great grandchildren; Brandi Becenti. Andy Wright, age 82, entered enteral rest on Tuesday, December 24, 2013. A Viewing and Wake will be held Friday, January 3, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. at the Wright Residence in Bylas. Funeral Services will be conducted on Saturday, January 4, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. at Stanley Memorial Hall in Bylas. Interment to follow at Black Point Cemetery.