ST. JOHN — John “Russell” Bright, 88, passed away Feb. 2, 2015 in Hutchinson. Born on Nov. 24, 1926, in Longton, he was the son of John Riley and Lola (Hughes) Bright. A resident of St. John since 1948, he was an Oil Field Consultant. On June 27, 1948, he married Norma Lee (Parten) in Beaver,
Mr. Bright was a member of the First Baptist Church, IOOF Lodge, past president of the JC’s, lifetime Veterans of Foreign Wars member while also serving his country in the US Navy during World War II. He was involved in the development of Brown Memorial Park by the VFW in the 1950’s and with Little League baseball all in St. John.  
Survivors include his wife, of the home; two sons, Mike Bright (Alicia), Napa, Calif. and Keith Bright (Kathleen), of Salina; four daughters, Connie Carey (Bruce), of Sterling, Carol McLeod (Don), of Oswego, Coette Lewis (Robert), of Wichita, and Carmen Hamilton (Steven), of Northville, Mich.; a brother, Willard Bright of Independence; a sister, Margaret Vestal of Independence; 13 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a brother, Wilbur Bright; and sisters, Claudine Wells, Twila Morris and Treva Bright.  
Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday at the First Baptist Church in St. John, with Pastor Roland Broeder presiding. Burial will follow at the Fairview Park Cemetery in St. John. Visitation will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, with family present from 4 to 7 p.m., at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to the First Baptist Church or the Ida Long Goodman Library in care of the funeral home.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Minnis Chapel*
P.O. Box 34
St. John, KS  67576
Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, Feb. 5, 2015