Creighton Merrell Wright

Creighton Merrell Wright, 21, was found near his home in Salt Lake City, Utah, on December 23, 2017, after taking his life.

He was born August 15, 1996, in Salt Lake City to Michael Glen and Maureen Merrell Wright. He is preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Barbara Dean Brooks and Vern Carl Merrell.

He is survived by his parents and brothers, Edison and Alton Wright; and his paternal grandparents, Marian Mikel Florence and Robert Jensen Wright of Taylorsville.

Creighton was born with an inquisitive and whip-smart mind. By age 18 months, he had a 150-word vocabulary and eventually scored a perfect 5 on the AP Calculus Exam. Science and math were like second languages to him.

Creighton was known for his boundless energy in the service of others. Creighton would quickly jump in to help. He could be counted on to give rides to friends, assist with yard work or freely give a sincere compliment. His help was quickly and quietly given with no thought of praise or reward.

Creighton wished for others to feel joy and happiness. Once, when he was 3 years old, he heard another child crying in the grocery store. Creighton insisted his mother find the child so he could offer his favorite toy, a pair binoculars, to console the child.

A lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Creighton, served in the South African Durban Mission from August 2015 to July 2017. He developed a passion for the local cuisine, including Bunny Chow, a hollowed out bread filled with curry, which caused Creighton to need a larger suit 6 months into his mission.

He brought that appetite home, and with it an increase in the Wright Family food budget. He loved to take his brothers to get pizza and tacos. He would forgo time with friends to have what he called “bro-time,” playing computer games, watching cartoons and staying up late to chat with Edison and Alton.

Creighton was a “proud ginger,” displaying vanity about both his red hair and his apparel, and he was fiercely proud of his ability to bargain hunt for clothes.

Many times Creighton mentioned how excited he was to spend his first Christmas home from his mission with his family. He had recently registered at Salt Lake Community College, and had an upcoming job interview. Clothes he ordered for himself arrived in the mail after his death.

The Monday before he died, Creighton actively participated in a Family Home Evening lesson with his parents and brothers. The topic was the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Creighton expressed his gratitude that the Savior’s Atonement allows each one of us to exchange places with Him, trading our personal pain for His glorious perfection.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, January 2, at 1:00 p.m. at the Oakview Stake Center, 3862 East Oakview Drive (4275 South), where friends and family are invited to visit Monday evening, January 1, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. and also Tuesday from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. prior to the service. Burial is at Redwood Memorial Estates