Daniel Sutton, Jr.

Daniel Irvin Sutton, Jr., Father, PawPaw, and lover of his natural family and God-Given family, passed on to continue his journey to his Father's House on August 20, 2021, at Mission Memorial Campus.

Daniel was born in Baton Rouge, LA on May 18, 1947, to his parents Daniel Irvin Sutton, Sr. and Louise Glass Sutton and was raised in Zachary, LA.

He attended LSU and pursued a degree in mechanical engineering; worked as a Longshoreman in Louisiana, and was a General Building Contractor, which was his true creative gift.  Daniel spent a large majority of his life working for Associated Marine Institutes, where he worked directly with young men who had experienced difficulties in life.  His passion was mentoring youth and he was a "Father Figure" to so many during the course of his life to both young men and women alike.  While living in Waynesville, he was involved in substitute teaching at Tuscola High School. Daniel met many wonderful young people, many of whom he maintained close relationships with after their graduation.  He deeply loved his community, especially all of his neighbors, and most of all the children of his neighbors.  Daniel took the time to plant tomatos for each individual one, bought them birthday cards, and attended their special events at school, sporting games, or scouts.

Daniel was married to Jimmie Price Sutton for 35 years before her passing on August 7, 2003.  He is survived by his five children, Lori, Heather, Daniell (Joel), Bonnie (Juan), and Carrie; and his 14 grandchildren Morgan, Tye, Lucy, Sarah, Rebecca, Jacob, Rachel, Andie, Alex, Parker, Payden, Adare, Lexi, Summer; great-granddaughter Guinevere; brother Thomas Sutton (Kathleen); and last but not least his "Best Friend Zero", his shared dog with his brother Tom.  He enjoyed daily rides on his ATV 4-wheeler with Zero so much.

He lived to serve others and often stated "That is the reason I wake up and breathe every day."  Sharing his gift and passion of fine craftsmanship for construction of homes and building projects was just one his favorite ways to show love.  Spending time connecting and truly getting to know all people he was in contact with was most important to him.  Daniel loved deep conversations about anything at all that anyone wanted to discuss with him, and he relished in the reality of life.  Some of his favorite topics included music history, specifically rock'n'roll history, Johnny Cash, Fats Domino, Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis; so many more artists could be mentioned as well, especially Bob Dylan.  He often expressed how he had done everything in life he wanted to do, had seen all he wanted to see, and was perfectly content and exceedingly grateful for all that God had provided for him.

Daniel loved routine deeply, waking up six days per week and "clocking in" to work at the gym; Community Coffee from Louisiana and his "family famous" eggs was how he started each day.  If anyone was visiting with him, he would prepare them eggs as well, you just had to watch out for those habaneros and jalapenos!

His home in the mountains of North Carolina was "like heaven" for him.  He often said, "I ALMOST feel guilty, it's so gorgeous!"  Daniel took pride in maintaining his log home and his property and spent as much time outside as possible, sitting in his porch swing or on his front porch was how he passed the time every afternoon.

Daniel Sutton will be remembered and celebrated with a service in his honor at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 2, 2021, in the Waynesville chapel of Wells Funeral Home in Downtown Waynesville.

In lieu of flowers, his family requests that donations be made to Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Western North Carolina to honor his legacy of mentorship for youth, 81 Elmwood Way, Waynesville, NC 28786. The link is bbbswnc.com, please specify Haywood County.

The care of Mr. Sutton has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville.