Johnny Lee Sutton of Alamo, TX, passed away on Nov 29thth, 2024. The son of John Sutton and Lily Mae Adams Sutton, he was born on July 14, 1939, in Crossett, AR. He married Leta Paulette White of Hermitage AR, on Christmas Eve, 1959, at the Hermitage United Methodist Church. He then lived in Arkansas and Louisiana until 1980, whereupon he moved to Texas and came to consider himself a Texan.
Johnny attended school in Warren, AR. He proudly served in the Army National Guard at Warren, AR in the early 1960s and later from the late 1960s to the mid-1970s he served in the Air National Guard at Ft. Smith, AR, completing his service holding the rank of SSG (staff sergeant).
From his South Arkansas roots delivering orders for Poole’s Grocery as a 9 year old, Johnny worked his way up through the construction, trucking and cement industries, eventually becoming an executive. This career took him to in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Texas. After a successful business career, he returned to truck driving after most people his age had retired. He considered Warren, Ft. Smith, Midland, TX, Houston, TX, and San Antonio, TX all to be hometowns. In his retirement, Johnny and his wife Carol travelled our nation from Canada to Mexico and from coast to coast, making lifelong friends wherever they went.
Johnny returned to Warren, AR in the 2000s with his wife Carol Thomas and lived there for several years. Being beloved around town by family and friends, his table at Molly’s and his front porch were always open to friends, family, and strangers, although one can’t say he ever met a stranger. “Uncle Johnny” as everyone called him, loved his time in Warren again. Johnny was blessed with 4 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren, who were the lights of his life. Having great-grandchildren and holding them was one of his most joyous experiences.
Johnny was baptized in the Baptist Church and had accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, a faith he held throughout his life.
Johnny is survived by his wife, Carol Thomas, daughter Stachia (Sutton) Thurmond and husband George Thurmond; of Santa Fe, TX; son Johnny Sutton, Jr. and wife Michelle of Sheridan, AR; grandchildren Kimber Dillon and husband Evan, Christopher Anderson and wife Taylor, Kenadi Sutton Lamkin and husband David, all of San Antonio, TX and Connor Sutton of Sheridan, AR; great grandsons Sean, William, and Seeley Anderson, and great granddaughter Mattie Lou Rose Dillon. Additionally survived by numerous nieces and nephews of AR, AZ, CA, CO, LA, and TX.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, James “Buddy” Sutton, and Sisters Lucille Freer, Annette Rauls, and Hattie Mae Greenwood.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Willoughby Freewill Baptist Church, 157 Bradley 16 Rd, Warren, AR 7167 at 11:00 a.m. January 04, 2024, with a reception for friends and family following. Johnny will be interred near his mother and sisters Annette and Hattie in the Willoughby Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the American Cancer Society in Johnny’s memory.
