SHERMAN - Hazel Bledsoe Wright, 80, of Sherman died Saturday, July 30, 2011 at The Homestead of Sherman. Services have been scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, August 4, 2011 at Dannel Funeral Home, officiated by Mark Mitchell, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Denison; dear friend Janice Thompson of Sherman; and Bill Mayes, minister of the Woods Street Church of Sherman. Internment will follow at Friendship Cemetery.
Mrs. Wright was born June 22, 1931 in Luling, Texas to Delton (D.O.) and Jo Bledsoe. She graduated from Sherman High School - class of 1949. She spent her entire adult life in Sherman and was a lifetime member of the Sherman High School Ex-Students Association. Hazel married Harold Wright on March 3, 1962, in Durant, Oklahoma and they were married for over 49 years. She retired from the General Telephone Company on June 30, 1989 after 37 years of service. Hazel is well known state-wide for her unselfish and altruistic civic activities. She loved her family and friends and spent her life helping others.
She was a member of the Woods Street Church of Christ, AARP, Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), Foster Grandparents, Texas Silver-Haired Legislature, Communication Workers of America, Local 6171, American Business Women of America, the League of Women Voters, Volunteer Services Council of MHMR, Area Council on Aging, WHO (We Help Ourselves) program and the Adopt-a-School Program.
Hazel served as an active AARP volunteer and shared additional volunteer time with the Texoma Regional Advisory Council addressing senior issues in Grayson County while remaining a strong advocate for abused women and children. Hazel taught children anti-victimization skills through the WHO program and volunteered for the Mental Health Mental Retardation Services of Texoma, the county-wide 4-H Club, and the Telephone Pioneers Rosa Hill Community Center.
She was awarded the 1998 Texoma Senior Hall of Fame Award for exceptional service that included Meals on Wheels and Medicare issues.
Hazel was the Texas District 4 Representative to the National Silver-Haired Congress and was appointed by Speaker Virginia Zachert to the Medicare Committee. Because of her tremendous impact on the lives of so many, she was honored at a reception hosted by the National Committee for Preserving Social Security and Medicare (NCPSS&M) at their office in Washington, D.C.
The Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services of Texoma presented Hazel with the Star of Texas Award. Hazel had been a volunteer for several years, giving leadership and working extensively with fund raising. Hazel had a heart of love that extended into the community by volunteering and donating many hours a week toward the needs of others.
Hazel is survived by her loving husband, Harold Wright; devoted children and spouses Jimmy Vandagriff and wife, JoAnn of Sherman, Texas; Donny Joe Vandagriff and wife, Donna of Cheyenne, Wyoming; Diana Barker and husband, Donnie of Southmayd, Texas; Scotty Wright and fiancee' Kenda Johnston of Denison, Texas; one sister, Judy Bledsoe Wortham and husband, Don of Sherman, Texas; one brother, Bob Bledsoe and wife, Janet of Georgetown, Texas; four grandchildren, Jason Vandagriff of Pflugerville, Texas, Jamie Vandagriff of Sherman, Texas, Michael Barker of Southmayd, Texas and Weldon Wright of Denison, Texas and two great-grandchildren, Julia and Jaxon Vandagriff of Georgetown, Texas; sisters-in-law, Mary Ruth Larabee and Mary Ann Wright of Sherman, Peggy Cranfill of Amarillo, Texas and brother and sister-in-law, Dewey and wife Owanna Wright of Farmer Branch, Texas; cousin, Mary Moore of Sherman; special friends, Shari Duncan of Sherman and Sherrie Potts of Luella, Texas.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Jo Bledsoe and father, Delton Bledsoe, mother and father-in-law, Harry and Bertha Wright; brothers-in-law, Allen (Tenny) Wright, H.C. (Booty) Wright and sister-in-law, Annie Jewel Laughlin.
Pallbearers will be grandsons and nephews, Jason Vandagriff, Michael Barker, Weldon Wright, Kirk Wortham, Del Bledsoe and Donald Barker.
The family suggests memorials be made to Home Hospice of Grayson County, P.O. Box 2306, Sherman, Texas 75091-2306 and the Volunteer Service Council of MHMR, P.O. Box 1087, Sherman, Texas 75091-1087.



The Herald Democrat
May 12, 2019

Harold Ray "Jones" Wright, 84, of Sherman died Friday, May 10, 2019 at Texoma Medical Center.  Services were held Tuesday morning, May 14, 2019 at Dannel Funeral Home, officiated by Pastor Leland Samuelson and dear friend, Paula Cawthon of Sherman.  Interment followed at Friendship Cemetery.
Mr. Wright was born November 12, 1934, in an area west of Sherman known as "Friendship," son of Harry and Bertha Holloway Wright.  Harold graduated from Sherman High School, class of 1953 and is a Lifetime member of the Sherman High School Ex-Students Association. He married Hazel Bledsoe Vandagriff on March 3, 1961 in Durant, Oklahoma; and they were married for over 49 years.  He retired from the General Telephone Company on June 30, 1989 after 37 years of service.
After Harold retired from GTE, he devoted his time to helping others by volunteering at local social organizations.  He spent 36,000 hours of volunteer service in Grayson County that spanned decades of time.  He was also well known state-wide for his unselfish civic activities.  It is noted that Harold, at the age of 6, watched a neighbor's house burn.  At that point,  Harold told his family, "People need help." and his mission in life had arrived.
Harold was appointed to the Texas Silver Hair Legislature and served as Sergeant at Arms.  He racked up volunteer hours with Grayson County Holiday Lights, Grayson County Stock Show, Grayson County AARP, Grayson County Fair Board, Sherman Senior Citizens Center, Grayson Home Hospice, Foster Grandparents Advisory Board, 211 Texoma Area Information & Referral Board, Texoma Community Center Volunteer Council and Grayson County 4-H.   In his free time Harold enjoyed caring for his lawn and garden that he so generously shared with family, friends and neighbors and barbecuing up at the cabin on Lake Texoma.
Harold is survived by children: Scotty Wright and wife, Kenda, of Denison; Jimmy Vandagriff and wife, JoAnn, Donny Joe Vandagriff and wife, Donna, all of Sherman; and son-in-law, Donnie Barker of Southmayd.  Grandchildren include Jason Vandagriff of Hutto; Jamie Vandagriff of Denison; Michael Barker of Sherman; and Weldon Wright of Denison; and 2 great-grandchildren, Julia and Jaxon Vadagriff of Georgetown; sisters-in-law, Mary Ann Wright and Janet Bledsoe of Georgetown; brother and sister-in-law, Don and Judy Wortham; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Hazel; parents; and sisters, Ann Laughlin, Peggy Cranfill; Mary Ruth Larabee; and sister-in-law, Owanna Wright; brothers, Dewey Wright; Allen E. "Teeny" Wright; and H.C. "Booty" Wright; daughter, Diana Barker and brother-in-law, Bob Bledsoe.
Pallbearers were Jason Vandagriff, Jamie Vandagriff, Michael Barker, Weldon Wright, Del Bledsoe, and Kirk Wortham.
Memorials may be made in Harold's name to Home Hospice of Grayson County, Sherman, Texas; and Volunteer Service Council, Sherman, Texas. - - - Fisher Funeral Home