James W. Sutton

James W. Sutton, age 85, of Harrah, OK, was born on December 21, 1923, in Velma, OK. He was the son of Ardie Preston & Percy (Bond) Sutton. He left this life on Tuesday, July 21, 2009, in Norman, OK. James grew up in Pauls Valley the eldest of six children. James was drafted into the Army in February, 1943 and took basic training at Camp Walter, Texas and Fort Benning, Georgia. The last of 1943 he shipped out overseas to England in time for D Day. His 4th Infantry Division landed on Utah Beach and went clear through to Berlin. He was wounded July 12, 1944, at Ste. Louix near Cherbrough, France, and Nov. 16, 1944, in the Hurricane Forest in Germany. Both times he returned to his same unit after being released from the hospital. James remained in the service after World War II and served on Okinawa during the Korean War and at Fort Lewis, Washington and Germany during the Vietnam War. He stayed in the military through the Cuba crisis and the Cold War. He retired in 1964 as a staff sergeant. James received the Purple Heart with an Oak Leaf Cluster, a Bronze Star and numerous other medals during his more than 20 years of service to his country. He married Juanita Brazeal on August 3, 1952 in Ft. Smith, AR. When he retired he moved to Harrah and worked for 11 years at Tinker Air Force Base before a second retirement. He was one of the oldest and continuously active members of the Harrah VFW and a member of the McLoud Masonic Lodge for many years. James enjoyed playing cards, fishing, hunting, playing dominoes and poker. James was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, step-son and one sister. He is survived by 2 brothers, Olen & Roberta Sutton, Choctaw, OK, Haskell Sutton, Harrah, OK; 2 sisters, Sybil Durant, Harrah, OK, Inez & Bert Cox, Choctaw, OK; 3 step-grandchildren and several step-great and great-great grandchildren and many other relatives and friends. Services will be held at 10:00 AM, Saturday, July 25, 2009 at the Asa Smith Memorial Chapel, Harrah, OK, with Rev. Gary Eubanks officiating. Interment will follow at Memory Lane Cemetery, Harrah, OK. Services are under the direction of Smith~Parks Funeral Service in Harrah, OK.