Brandon Dennis Wright, 50, passed away on Monday, Nov 29, 2021, at his home in Hurricane, UT. He was born February 15, 1971, in Salt Lake City, UT to Dennis and Marion (Worthington) Wright. He married Tacy Wilson on August 31, 1990, in Hurricane UT. Their marriage was solemnized in the St. George Temple on August 31, 1991.
Brandon had an idyllic childhood growing up in Grantsville. He had a lifelong love of hunting and fishing, which he did in abundance with his best friend Richard and his dog Patches. He idolized his grandpa Jeff and was his shadow whenever possible. He especially loved spending time on the farm with Grandpa. He learned the definition of hard work at a young age hauling hay and moving sprinklers. Brandon moved from Grantsville with his family to Bryce Canyon for a short time before moving to Hurricane.
Shortly after he moved to Hurricane in 1986, Brandon met Tacy and they quickly became inseparable. They turned 16 together, grew up together, loved, laughed, fought, and shared the rest of their lives together. After graduation, Brandon moved back to Bryce Canyon and did trail rides in the park for a summer. He returned to Hurricane where he and Tacy were married the following year.
After they were married, Brandon and Tacy settled in LaVerkin where their three boys were born. They finally settled permanently in Hurricane in 2006.
Brandon started his career in construction working for several companies around the area. He worked for the cities of Hurricane, St. George, and Washington in various positions. He recently started working as an assistant director in the Parks and Leisure Services department for Washington City and felt like he had found his calling. He loved the people he met and worked with throughout his career and made lifelong friends that he considered family.
Brandon was a dedicated volunteer firefighter and EMT for the city of Hurricane starting in the early ’90s. He was passionate about what he did and continued to talk about these cherished experiences for the rest of his life.
Brandon was an avid outdoorsman. He loved hunting, fishing, camping, shooting, and mostly spending time in the mountains with his family and friends. He could strike up a conversation with anyone he met, anywhere, especially if it involved the outdoors. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Through his Christ like example, he has left a legacy of hard work and dedication for his family.
Brandon is survived by his wife Tacy, his sons Tyler, Zachary, and Austin, his grandson Kycen, parents, Dennis and Marion of Hurricane, sisters, Brenda (Justin) Roundy of Saratoga Springs, Kelli (Will) King of ID, and Kaci (Roger) Hill of Enoch, along with many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. He is preceded in death by his infant brother, Clint, and his grandparents Jethro and Mary Worthington and Russell and Beverly Wright.
A viewing will be held on Friday, Dec 3, 2021, from 5:00-7:00 pm, as well as Saturday from 9:00-10:30 am. The funeral will follow at 11:00 am. All services will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Hurricane North Chapel, 155 E 1050 N, Hurricane, Utah. Interment will be at the Hurricane City cemetery.
I am the youngest of 6 and Marion was the 3rd of the 6 kids, so Brandon is my nephew or more like a little brother. When I was 9 years old, Brandon was born and the first time I saw him, I asked my mother if we could keep him. It would be nice to have a little brother. My mother said you already have a pet dog and horses and plenty of cows to work with every day, but she did say I am sure we will see him quite often, and that held true. I did spend a lot of time with him for the next 10 years, up until I left for England on a mission.
When Brandon was 3, we were out back checking on the horses and my dad asked him if he would like to have the colt that was to be born in the next couple of weeks. Brandon jumped right on that. He didn't stop thinking about the colt, that is all he talked about. The problem was the colt was supposed to be for me. I kind of think my dad liked Brandon more than he liked me. So since then, even up to a couple of months ago, every time we talked to each other, I reminded him how mad I still am at him for taking my colt. The truth is, I was glad he got it. The colt really made him happy. He named him Peanut Butter. He was a Palomino quarter horse with a white stripe down his nose and 4 white stockings.
There are a lot of things Brandon and I did to get into trouble, and maybe he was a better example to me than I was to him. When he was young I accidentally dumped him out of the shopping cart at Soelbers Grocery store and then I accidentally broke Brenda’s nose with a pool ball at the Grantsville Fire Department.
Brandon always helped my dad and me with the cows, and Dennis was there a lot as well. Between brading, ear-marking, cutting horns off, or even delivering calves, he was right there. When he rode with us down to the farm, he was right in the middle of us in the front seat of the truck, always trying to drive the stick shift. If we stopped at the fire station, he had a rootbeer or a Pepsi with us with peanuts in the bottom-he wanted to be just like his grandpa. He would sit on the slip as we hauled hay and play on the hay stacks. He always just had a good time and was a lot of fun to have around us.
When Lori and I were dating, we took Brandon and Lori’s brother, Lance, fishing at Tooele Reservoir and they both about drove us crazy. Every 30 seconds they were checking their hooks to see if the night crawlers were still on the hooks. Lori’s brother Lance and Brandon were good friends. It’s hard to say this, but 8 years ago I spoke at Lance’s funeral. It’s hard to swallow losing two such good men at a young age.
When Brandon was in high school, I talked to him about going pheasant hunting in the Hurricane fields. He said, “come over tomorrow morning and we can go find some birds.” So, I arrived early and we went pheasant hunting. Things were going really well, we got a couple of birds, then all of a sudden he said,” we better get out of here!” As he started to run towards the truck, I was asking him, “you did get permission to hunt on this property, right?”His answer was, “kinda.” I told him that was supposed to be a yes or no answer. He laughed all the way back to his house. In other words, he hadn’t asked permission.
I can’t remember how many times we went deer hunting together. He would take us with him on Tacy’s family’s property up on East Zion. One trait I don’t think anyone will ever pass Brandon on was how fast he could clean a deer. I think we timed him once and it was like 4-5 minutes.
One of my favorite memories of Brandon will always be the time our families were fishing at Otter Creek. Tyler caught a “PIG” and just as he was getting it to the shore it spit the hook! All four of us (Tyler, Justin, Zac, and I) just stood there and watched it flop around on the shore in awe of how big it was! Brandon came running to us to try and save it, and ended up knee deep in the water wrestling that fish while we all stood and watched him! The fish got away and Brandon threw his arms up, like he did, and looked at us and said “ what the hell ya dumb shits? Grab the fish!”🤣 I will also always treasure the time I got to live with Brandon and Tacy after I graduated high school. I’m sure that was a weird adjustment for them both, but they always made me feel welcome. Brandon would take me shooting with him every once in a while and there was one time we went to shoot his .30-06. I’d never shot a gun that big before and I was pretty nervous, but Brandon insisted I take a shot. He took the first couple of shots and missed them all and said “see now ya won’t feel so bad if you miss!” So I sit down to shoot and I hit the target on the first shot. I was expecting a “what the hell?” But his response was “atta girl!” That was always my favorite response from him, “atta girl Lynn’s!” There honestly isn’t a day that I don’t think of him. I think of all the fun times our families got to spend together and all the laughs we all shared! I love that he would always ask about my kids and then tell Dal and I “That’s what it’s all about right there!” I miss Brandon so much, but I’m grateful for the time I did have with him!
This is an experience that happened before they were married. Kent had been watching a herd of wild goats in the hills across the road for some time. One day Brandon was here and Kent grabbed a couple of his rifles and bullets. He gave one each to Brandon and they headed in the direction of the goats. They sneaked quietly upon them. When they were within about 30 yards from them the goats spooked and started to run. Between the two of them they shot 7 shots and 6 went down. One of them had two holes in them which means they never missed a shot. The horn spread in the largest goat was about 5 ft. Brandon was beyond excited. They brought the head from the largest one home and staked it out in an ant bed so the ants could clean off all the meat on the bones. The next morning the head was gone. Possibly a coyote got it. This has been a fun story to repeat through the years and has been the cause of much bragging and laughter. When Brandon was a senior in high school he played on the football team. We decided to travel to Kanab to see him play. A player from the offensive team came running toward Brandon. Brandon charged and got him in the gut with his fist. He was kicked out of the game for this so we didn't get to see him play much😂 We went deer hunting one year and Brandon brought along a friend. They got a large buck and were in the process of gutting him out. Brandon was showing his friend how it was done. They didn't know that I was sneaking up on them. I got about 5 ft behind them and fired my gun in the air. No one but me would have thought about doing this(mom's words). It scared Brandon so bad his arms threw in the air and he fumbled trying to get to his gun. The knife he was using went flying and was never found. I was lucky I didn't get decked for that. (The drama was better than any explanation can give) (mom's words again)
Brandon had a gentle way about him that always made me feel respected and valued. He was a tough guy, but had a tender heart. I love how he and Ray hit it off right away. They seemed to have a special connection. I liked how Brandon saw right through people. He was a great judge of character. In his quiet way he understood what was going on and I felt his perceptions could be trusted. I loved his integrity and his kind, gentle eyes. To me, he and Ray had a lot in common. Perhaps his best memories are being made now. I can't wait to find out what those two are up to! When I picture Brandon it is with a hat and wearing camo, and a gentle smile. And of course, his chuckle! He was a great friend to my boys and we all love him so much.
With love, Toni
Because of Brandon's size and strength he has been called on to lift many heavy loads. Whenever someone moved Brandon was there. When we in our older age required some heavy lifting Brandon was there. But one might notice he wasn't always happy about it-BUT HE DID IT ANYWAY. Gotta love him for his contribution whether he was happy about it or not😊💙
This experience happened after he passed but it was so like him. One night he appeared at the foot of my bed in all his bigness. And in a tone Brandon used often when he was excited asked "have you seen my hat?' And then he was gone. So Brandonesque🤔
I would like to remember Brandon as being such a good provider for his family. His work ethic was impeccable. Also I remember him as a father who taught his boys many life saving skills. He taught them how to safely handle guns then took them hunting to make sure they used their instruments safely. He took them fishing and taught them how to skillfully use a knife. He took them camping (along with Tacy) and taught them to build a fire safely. All of us who knew him are better off for knowing him.
I definitely owe it to Brandon to for sure it’s the least I could do I would be glad to provide you with as much information as I can but most of what I know is from 3rd person I don’t even remember going to work that day but the first thing I remember is waking up in an ambulance and then waking up at the hospital but from what I have been told was from Brandon, mike Ballard , and josh Maynard and that on the day of my accident we were putting in 60” storm drain and a 16” sewer line. The operator of the trackhoe was digging the trench and accidentally hit St.George’s main waterline and it blew up on me at full pressure and blew the steel latter we used to get into the trench into the back of my head and knocked me out and it filled the 10’ trench up in under a minute and the face of the trench caved in on me and that between Brandon, mike and josh, they helped get me out of the trench and if it wasn’t for Brandon I wouldn’t be alive because “the people running the show at at the time” didn’t want to call an ambulance and Brandon told them b.s they are definitely calling an ambulance and then proceeded to call 911 everyone I talked to including Brandon said that he was very adamant about getting me there and couldn’t believe they didn’t want to call. I had asphyxiated a bunch of mud and water from the trench and had a traumatic brain injury and cervical spine injury and that it was very good that I got to the hospital when I did. It changed my life forever. I have had seizures, blackouts, memory loss, insane migraines, double vision and ptsd ext. There were times I wondered if I was ever going to get better and I was in a very dark place for a long time, then my oldest daughter was born and changed my life forever and then my youngest daughter as well and it gave me something to live for. It took me about 8 years to finally start to heal and recover and start to get most of my function and memory and for my seizures to start to get better now that I am where I am in life I will forever have permanent damage but I can truly appreciate how fragile life is and to not take a single day for granted my girls mean the world to me and I couldn’t imagine a single day without them or a single day of their life without me in it. I owe it all to Brandon, Mike and Josh and most of all to Brandon for not taking no for an answer and for that I get to watch my kids grow up. I thank God everyday for him and truly believe that was one of the many reasons he was put here on this earth along with creating his amazing family. I used to talk to him every time I saw him at Cal Ranch or around town and he would always ask how I was doing and Brandon would always say let him know if I needed anything and he was glad that he was there that day and that he couldn’t believe I survived it all. I wish I could just tell him now that I am so very grateful and my family as well that he was there but I definitely tell him in my prayers. I hope this helps I did the best I could and appreciate you asking me to do this it means a lot.
You know some of the memories I have of Brandon are some of the silliest, which I know he would want it that way. It all starts on Saturday mornings watching cartoons! He was always just a big kid and loved watching the tube more than any of us. Then it might have turned into a wrestling match between me and Kaci! With our matching ice cream bucket helmets (safety first!) in our PJ’s we each received our professional athlete names (Kaci was always the claw) then we would scrap it out with Brandon somehow getting a choke hold on one of us. Then he would gently let us go.
Then there was the running, I always wanted to run like him (that one never happened) but he was the best. He was amazing and he was passionate about it. I always thought he could have been a professional football player with his speed.
My Buddy Brandon
What a buddy. Can’t really remember where I first met him. KA (my wife) or Tacy would probably know. Maybe kids’ karate or sports or just dinking around the town of Hurricane. I know we got “friendly” about hunting and fishing with our young boys going on adventures in Utah and also Texas. I have some great stories filled with shenanigans and belly laughs involving Brandon. How could you not when you’ve been around this guy? Kind of guy that would literally give you the shirt off his back and also have your back in any dust up. Dudes’ forearms were like Popeyes…. He was one of the few buddies I have had that I was like…”I don’t know if I could take him”. BAMF in my opinion. I have some great stories that give me fond memories from Brandon and I will share them here.
Brandon kept me on calendar for putting in for hunts, turkey tags and ice fishing levels without being prompted. I would laugh when he would call and ask if I had put in and also when he wanted to know if I drew out. He was more excited about it than I was most of the time. A great hunting buddy, and friend, that was willing to take time off, loan equipment or guns and be a part of my hunting experiences. Brandon also introduced me and my family to going to the Kaibab to cut a Christmas tree. He, and Tacy, invited us and our young family to come with them for a Christmas tree cutting after hunting and hiking for the perfect tree. This is a tradition our family still continues today and it is all thanks to the Wrights for introducing the Humphrey’s to it.
My father in law had a large ranch in Texas that Brandon and I went to on more than one occasion. Deer, pigs, coyotes…you name it. All at your harvesting. He once said he was going to talk to Tacy and the kids about moving there and being the caretaker in off months. Not sure how that would fly…but he loved it there. The first time we went we drove the 17 hour drive by truck and traveled through the night Brandon woke up at like 6 AM…near Muleshoe,TX. As I drove, he stated even though it was cold and in the 30’s he couldn’t get over how much snow there was in the fields along the roads. I laughed and as it got more light I informed him it was cotton. He really was intrigued from not seeing cotton on the stalk before. We pulled over and let Brandon check it out. He actually pulled a few branches off and last I saw, they were on a buck he shot at the top of his stairs in his home. Great experiences in new areas.
Same ranch and another story from a green hunter who had never really shot a rifle. My brother Pau,l who drove in from Tulsa, OK. Paul and Brandon went out on an evening after we had first arrived on the ranch in Snyder, TX. Cooper Mountain Ranch. They were on a 4 wheeler and saw a “good buck”. My boys and I to this day quote Brandon but by saying “That’s a dandy buck”! when a deer with horns is mature. As Brandon said, Paul saw the buck and got off the 4 wheeler, got buck fever so bad that he trembled and couldn’t shoot. He handed the 30.06 to Brandon and said “shoot it for me”. Brandon laughed and said…”Nah..we gotta a couple of days and you’ll get one”. I really think after hunting with Brandon in Texas and Utah over the years that he enjoyed the stalk and also helping others get excited and achieve success rather than shooting an animal for harvest himself. Paul ended up getting a deer and does and Brandon did too.
Favorite story to share about Brandon. Zane, my son, and the 400 lb pg with huge tusks. Same ranch… different trip. We had been there a couple days and shot some deer, pigs, coyotes, a racoon, a bobcat, etc… They both still had a buck tag but were looking for something wall mount level. Zane was like 12 years old and had been getting dropped to elevated stands on his own with an emphasis to not get out or having me with him in the stand for safety. Brandon, great guy he was, offered to take Zane one morning to mix it up. This is in the days when cell phones were flip Nokias suck and had no service in west TX other than text using the number text system. I dropped off Brandon and Zane pre-dusk at a stand to walk to and went on to another stand like a half mile away. All was quiet until about 7:30 AM. Then I thought a war broke out. I heard a succession of 7 shots in about a 20 second time frame. Either Zane and Brandon were in a gun fight with each other or it was going down with an animal. Story: Small deer at the stand at first light and were dispersing. Zane and Brandon talked and were going to get out of the stand and hunt and stalk. As they got out of the stand a big, two toned pig rolled into the corn. Brandon said they were like 20 yards from the ladder to the stands. 60 to 70 yard shot. From behind brush, they waited for the husked pig to get to the corn. Brandon said “I let Zane shoot first”. Zane had a 7MM.08, Brandon a 30.06. Zane hit that pig broadside, and per report, it squealed and did a 360. It then proceeded to charge through the brush where all they could see was the brush getting trampled coming right at them. They had about 20 yards once it cleared the brush and they were in the open. As it cleared the brush they lit into the big boy and dropped it about 5 yards to a skid in the brush and dirt at their feet. I texted Zane and was like “What happened!!!!” He responded “That was awesome!” After talking with Brandon, I knew my boy would’ve been done without Brandon. Funny thing was Brandon joked afterwards that if the last shot didn’t down the pig and he knew he could beat Zane to the ladder! Truthfully, he would’ve fought to the death to save my boy…and I know that. That pig had bullets and wounds along his razorback. To this day we should have made it a Euro mount for saving my lil guy.
Brandon was a great friend and I want to see him again one day. He made me an engraved buck shed he found with my name on it that sits proudly in my living room. He loaned me tools, ice fishing equipment, his work as a scout, hugs and handshakes overall. I think we only really hugged twice. He went to Kansas City with me after my Dad died to help pack my Mom up to move. As we were loading some stuff I got emotional about my Dad’s death and he just came in and gave me a big bear hug. Brandon was a great friend that I miss and think about… a lot. My last little story still makes me laugh.
We were leaving Texas and near Lubbock when we stopped to get lunch, BBQ. I was standing behind Brandon in line when I noticed a tick on the back of his coat. I mentioned it to him as I flicked it off and stepped on the tick on the floor. This was like a gas station BBQ joint. Had quite a bit of fun on the way home saying I saw another tick on him. Let’s just say he was not a fan of ticks and they freaked him out. From listening to country music and comedy routines (Dear Penis) on our travels along with his excitement when he saw me in town and we could BS. Just a great guy and friend that I wish I could call and talk to today. RIP Brandon and keep giving Heaven some Hell.
I remember his big bear hugs. He really was a big teddy bear. When I went to Grandma's funeral he came up to me and was asking how I was. He always said hi and was so truly caring. I remember them talking about the hunts and the big deer they were going to get. Uncle DLynn talked about the seagull and I can even hear him chuckling when he would talk about it. They also had fun fishing stories. Sorry I don't have many specific details.
