CLINTON – Samuel Judd Wright III, “Joe”. On the morning of March 12, 2021, Joe took his final journey from his home in Clinton to a place of greener pastures and where we hope the supply of milk, Cabot Cheese and ice cream are endless. Joe left peacefully while his wife, Nancy, made sure he knew he was loved by all of us.

Joe was born by no fault of his own, in Middletown Connecticut, Sept. 17, 1942. He was the oldest child of Samuel J. and Elizabeth (Faulkingham) Wright II. His family lived in all six New England states before their final move Clinton, Maine in the early ’50s, living for a year in the town of Poland, then settling in Clinton, at the old Gerald Farm known from then on as The Wright Place. As a youngster Joe helped his parents with the care and management of 6,000 laying hens and a small herd of Jersey cows. It was here that he learned his work ethic and stewardship for the land and livestock.

Joe was a graduate from Clinton High School and the University of Maine. While he was attending U. Maine, he rekindled a friendship with Nancy Torrey who he met in the 6th grade while living in Poland, Maine.

Joe and Nancy were married in Poland, Maine, in 1963. They settled on the Horseback Road in Clinton with a picture-perfect view of The Wright Place. Together they raised their four children there and watched the sunset over the family farm, where Joe was a partner with his parents and his brother Thomas. They grew the farm from a dozen Jersey cows to 600-plus milking Holsteins, raising each one from birth there on the farm. Joe was very proud of the success of the farm, but the pride he felt for his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren topped it all.

Joe and Nancy raised their children with their farmer work ethic and strong sense of community. Joe belonged to many community organizations, including the Clinton Jaycees, he was the Cub Scout Pack Master of Pack 408. He joined the Clinton Lions club in 1980 and was a member the rest of his life. Joe served as the Agricultural Superintendent for the Clinton Lions Agricultural Fair Association for many years and could always be found within a stone’s throw of the livestock barn during the fair. Joe was awarded Outstanding Young Farmer for Maine earning him a trip to Kansas for the National Convention.

Joe enjoyed sharing his love of the outdoors with his children, taking them camping, snowmobiling, fishing and hiking. One of his favorite hikes was Borestone Mountain. Joe was always up for a road trip, in his younger years he and Nancy traveled the to the Gaspe Peninsula on his Harley Sportster. He had visited his good friend, Jake, in Hawaii, taken Amtrack to the west coast to visit family and friends in California. He hauled his camper to Florida and tried the life of a snowbird on a couple of occasions. He liked taking the backroads and finding out “where does this road go?”.

Joe retired from the family farm in 1993. He worked many jobs after leaving the farm including salesman for Kramer’s Tractor, he mowed the interstate in the Bangor area for Steve Roach Excavation. He drove tractor trailer, and hauled milk for Harding’s Milk Transport. While living one winter in Sebring Florida he worked at Tractor Supply. Joe enjoyed mowing the fields “on the hill” for the Clinton Lions Club, along with mowing his own lawn with his 1950 Gravely tractor.

Joe is survived by Nancy, his loving wife of 57 years, his sons, Brian Barney (Bridget) Wright, Stephen (Tina) Wright of Clinton, his daughter Bethany Wright, his Son-in-Law Andy Hodgins of Kingfield, along with his four granddaughters Tasha (Josh) Crowell, Caleigh (Andrew Miller) Wright of Clinton, Chelsea Wright of Hartland, and Penelope Hodgins of Kingfield. He is also survived by his four greatgrandchildren Teagan and Mason Crowell, and Torrey and Henry Miller of Clinton. Joe also leaves behind his Brother William (Polly) Wright of Detroit, Maine and his sister Janet (Val) Bard of Fairfield. Joe’s brother-in-law John (Muriel) Torrey and his sisters-in-laws Cindy (Robert) Whiting and Glenna (Max) Bermann along with many nieces and nephews also survive him.

Joe was predeceased by his parents, his beloved daughter Samantha Jo, and his brothers Thomas and Raymond Wright.

Celebrations of Joe’s life will be held at a later time yet to be determined.

Arrangements under the direction and care of Dan & Scott’s Cremation & Funeral Service, 445 Waterville Road, Skowhegan ME 04976.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Clinton Lions Agricultural Fair Association care of

Coleen Bean

P.O. Box 522

Clinton, ME 04927

or to Maine Mountain

Children’s House in Kingfield in care of

Beth Wright

667 W. Kingfield Rd.

Kingfield, ME 04947