Lenvil Eugene "Gene" Wright, 69, Pleasant Valley, Missouri, died Tuesday, March 22, 2016 at North Kansas City Hospital, North Kansas City, Missouri, surrounded by family and friends. Graveside services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 26, 2016 at Sharon Cemetery in Drexel, Missouri, with visitation from 11:00-1:00 p.m. Saturday at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville, Missouri.

Gene was born September 4, 1946 in Lamar, Missouri, the son of Lenvil M. and Belva I. (Ogan) Wright. He was a 1964 graduate of Center High School in Kansas City, Missouri. He was a proud Vietnam era veteran, serving in the United States Submarine Service, USS Lafayette SSBN-616, and was a proud member of the Topeka/Jefferson City Base USSVI. Gene was a born story teller. He loved living and enjoying life to the fullest. Gene was an avid NASCAR fan. He loved to golf, smoke a cigar and enjoy a beer.

He was preceded in death by his parents. Gene is survived by his wife, Martha "Marty", of the home; his son, Derek Wright, Kansas City, Missouri; two brothers, David Wright (Debbie), Dillsboro, Indiana, and John Wright (Darla), Grandview, Missouri; one sister, Wendy Preston (Steve), Harrisonville, Missouri; cousins, nieces, nephews, and many friends.