Morris County native dies in West Texas crash

A Celebration of Life service honoring Jason Scot Wright will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, January 27, 2024 in the auditorium of Dalhart High School in Dalhart. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, January 29, 2024 at the Daingerfield Church of Christ with Tim Gibbs officiating. The family will receive friends beginning at 12 p.m. prior to the service at the church. Services have been entrusted to the Horn Family at Horn-Nail-Haggard Funeral Home in Daingerfield.

Scot was born June 23, 1969. He died following an early Wednesday morning wreck in Dumas January 24, 2024. A native of Lone Star and Daingerfield, Scot was a 1987 Daingerfield High School graduate. He received a bachelor’s degree from Stephen F. Austin University before earning a master’s degree from the University of Texas at Tyler.

In 1998, he married his loving wife, Torri Wright. He worked as a teacher for his alma mater, Daingerfield Lone Star ISD, and began his administrative career in Avinger before moving to the high school principal position at Ore City. He also served as high school principal at Paul H. Pewitt High School before joining Dalhart ISD where he served as the high school principal since 2018.

He was a member of the Church of Christ. He enjoyed spending time with his family and his biggest passion was his children and his dogs. He loved taking summer vacations with his family, attending sorority events with his daughter, Reagan, and going to concerts with his son Logan. Scot was one to always think positive, never give up, always take the high road and do what is right. He lived by the motto: #ExcellenceEveryday

He was preceded in death by his parents Edwin Wright and Barbara Baker-Strong and the father that raised him, Lester (Bud) Strong. Scot is survived by his wife, Torri Wright; son, Logan Wright; daughter, Reagan Wright; mother-in-law Janice Bryant; and father-in-law, Bud Bryant; brother-in-law Chad Maddox; sister, Trisha Carey and husband Danny; niece, Sydney Carey; and other close family members. He also leaves behind his cherished companions, Jessie, Lucy and Koda.

According to Department Of Public Safety reports, Wright was headed westbound on US 87 between Hartley and Dumas when he veered into the oncoming traffic of the eastbound lane.

Wright, who was traveling in a district SUV, was returning home from basketball games in Tulia. Dalhart, where Wright had been an administrator since 2018, is about 85 miles from Amarillo. Wright was transported to Moore County Hospital in Dumas where he later died from his injuries.

Dalhart ISD Superintendent Jeff Byrd issued a press release statement Wednesday morning which read in part:

“The community is grieved by this unexpected tragedy and words cannot express our grief for the loss of Mr. Wright,” Byrd wrote. “Mr. Wright was a servant leader for the high school, always doing what he believed was in the best interest of his students and staff. His kindness, strength, wisdom and compassion made him an inspiring role model to the students and staff of the entire district.”

Photo courtesy Dalhart ISD Admin