Von Sutterfield

Von Sutterfield was born on a farm southwest of Prague in Pottawatomie County, May 12, 1916, to William S. & Dulsena Kelley Sutterfield, and departed this life on Saturday, May 17, 2008, at his home in Prague. He was 92 years of age. Von was raised in the Prague area and graduated from Prague High School in 1934. On August 14, 1940 he married Eloita Spitler of Meeker. After his marriage Von and Eloita engaged in his farming operation in the Turner community, southwest of Prague, where they lived until his retirement from farming. He enjoyed agriculture work, tilling the soil, tending his crops, caring for the livestock and later his John Deere tractors. In his later years, Von transferred his interest in agriculture to lawn care and was meticulous about the appearance of his yard. While on the farm, Von attended Pleasant Home Baptist Church. For forty years he attended and served the church. His greatest enjoyment came from leading congregational singing during Sunday services. Von was a naturally talented musician and was able play a variety of instruments with virtually no formal training. In 1987 he united with the First Baptist Church of Prague and was an active member until his health began to fail. In 1957 Von began part time employment with the State Department of Agriculture in the Marketing Division. In 1964 he became a full time Federal Inspector for the State of Oklahoma. Once again he was working with the farming community and made a wide circle of friends in his almost 24 years of service. Von was preceded in death by his parents, 2 sisters, Ressie Cox, Jessie Emerson, an infant sister, 5 brothers, Lawton, Farnum, Herbert, Meade and Dedge, 2 nephews, Loy Sutterfield and Claud Cox, a great nephew, Ryan Emerson, and a great niece, Angela Emerson. Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Eloita Sutterfield of the home; nephews, Howard Emerson of Brea, CA, Ronald Sutterfield Harris of Phoenix, AZ, Kenneth Spitler of Houston, TX, Wayne Guinn of Las Vegas, NV, Jerold Guinn of St. George, UT, Gregory Guinn of Tulare, CA; nieces, Avis Jean VanZant of Prague, Maxine Lokey of Prague, Loretta Rice of Guthrie, Idabelle Jones of Morgan Hill, CA, Linda Spitler St. Onge of Houston, TX; great nephews, Randall Lokey of Yukon, Ron Lokey of McAlester, Doug Lokey of Prague, Jay VanZant of Prague, Rick Rice of Guthrie, Jack Emerson of Brea, CA; great nieces, Lana Dunn of Stafford, VA, Connie Hickstein of Guthrie, Janel Jones, Sharon Jones and Cynthia J. Arvedo, all of Morgan Hill, CA; 21 great-great nieces & nephews; great-great-great nieces & nephews, Logan, Conner & Caleb of Oklahoma, and 14 others in California; and many special friends remain.