Inous J. Wright

Inous J. Wright, 93, of Jonesboro passed from this life July 30, 2014 at her home. She was born January 13, 1921 to the late George and Katie Belle Johnson. She spent the majority of her life residing in northeastern Arkansas and was a long time member of the Valley View Church of Christ. Inous owned and operated Wright’s Alterations and Tailoring for over 23 years and previously served the Jonesboro community for additional 14 years. She got started up in Leachville at the young age of 13 and started out making her own clothes. She shared a home with nine siblings, including two sets of twins, her parents and a Singer sewing machine. While living in Northeast Arkansas she sewed for dance schools in Paragould and Black Oak. Also as seamstress in Northeast Arkansas she designed and made some wedding attire, including bridal gowns. Once she moved and relocated to Nashville that was the beginning of her connections to the stars in the nation’s country music capital. She sewed for several songwriters and country musicians of the south, including Chet Akins, Ray Stevens, Sonny James, Crystal Gayle, Emmylou Harris, Dottie West, Hank Williams Jr. and Rex Allen. She also worked closely with The Judds, particularly mother Naomi. Inous gave all the glory to God throughout her life’s successes and many talents. She emphasized that God is responsible for her ability to make clothing and to make clothing fit the body. “My God’s my trainer. That’s all I can say because he sure trained me. I can tell you instantly…whether any clothes are good for you or not.” She became a very strong woman over the years because she never had anything handed to her and worked simply because she wanted to. She really enjoyed doing what she did for many years.

Inous is preceded in death by her parents, her son: Ronnie; three brothers: Virgil, Hershel, and Fred; four sisters: Bertha, Ruby Neil, Barbara Jean, and her twin sister Nina.
She is survived by one son: Billy Gibcomb of Beebe; two daughters: Mary (Max) Steele of Vista, CA and Teresa Johnson of San Diego, CA; six grandchildren: Roger, Nicole, Heather, Brian, Christina, and Amy; seventeen great-grandchildren: Ryan, Lauren, Lindsey, Trevor, Danika, Chloe, Briley, Brianna, Brooke, Brandon, Taylor, Lori, Robby, Billy, Jazmin, Jayden, and Micah.

Funeral service will be 11 a.m. August 4, 2014 at Valley View Church of Christ with David Gibson officiating. Burial will follow at Leachville Cemetery with Emerson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Active pallbearers will be: Randy Simpkins, Terry Smith, Rufus McDaniel, Jimmy Ward, Roger Steele, and Danny Walis. Honorary pallbearers will be: G.W. Endicott and John A. Johnson.

Visitation will be from 2-5 p.m. Sunday, August 3, 2014 at Emerson Funeral home.

In lieu of flowers please consider donations to: Crowley’s Ridge Academy, 606 Academy Drive, Paragould, AR 72450