Warren Elfors Sutton Obituary (1938

Warren Elfors Sutton, 79, passed away peacefully at Utah Valley Hospital surrounded by his family on Monday, January 1, 2018 from a quick and overwhelming infection. He was born June 6, 1938 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Arthur Reuben Sutton and Ethel Mary Elfors. At age 6 he contracted polio and was miraculously healed upon being given a priesthood blessing by President George Albert Smith. At age 10 he began working which would be a pattern of hard work and dedication to his family which would continue for the next 60 years. His first job was mowing lawns and then at age 12 he began a paper route. Upon entering Junior High he worked as a janitor. Then in High School, he began working with his older brother Art who managed a group of theaters. He always talked about the joy that came from working hand in hand with his brother who he admired and adored. He graduated from West High School in 1957 and was always proud to be a black panther. He served a faithful LDS Mission in the Western Canadian Mission for which he was set apart by Spencer W. Kimball. Upon his return he was sealed for time and all eternity by LeGrand Richards to Diane Jeanette Casper in the Salt Lake Temple on August 4, 1961 who he met prior to his mission while working in the theaters. They spent the majority of their life living in Taylorsville, Utah. He was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and loved serving as a ward clerk for 25 years to five different bishops as well as other callings. Because of his voice, which many said lent itself to being on the radio, he was often called upon to narrate Easter and Christmas programs. He retired after working over 30 years in dispatch and billing for various trucking companies. During this same time he moonlighted at his dream job which was working for the Salt Palace and the Delta Center (now the Vivint Arena) as a security officer. Here he came to know personally the athletes of the Utah Jazz Basketball team and the Salt Lake Golden Eagles Hockey team and they would greet him each night by name as they entered the arena. His interaction with local dignitaries and celebrities was a constant source of joy to him. He was an avid sportsman who loved to play golf and fast-pitch softball, hunt, camp, fish, and coach his children in baseball and softball. When he became unable to coach and play sports, he could be found supporting his children and grandchildren at their activities. He loved animals, particularly dogs. During his many health struggles, his dogs helped him to find comfort and to be healed. Because of numerous situations brought on by health concerns it was necessary for him to learn and relearn to walk on four separate occasions. First, like all of us, as a child, second after polio, third after Guillain-Barre syndrome, and fourth after six months of a severe illness. During these trials, he became a student of faith, strength, patience, and endurance, qualities that his sweet wife would help him learn, which enabled him to then be a teacher to his family and others. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Arthur Thayne Sutton and his sister Donna Mary Anderson. He is survived by his wife Diane Jeanette Casper Sutton and his three children Sondra (Pat) Heaston, Bonnie (David) Kirk, and Christopher (Mindi) Sutton. He has nine grandchildren; Jay, David, Jordan, and Nicholas Kirk, Jacqueline Heaston Jensen and Andrea Heaston Wallace, and Madison, Jackson, and Jacob Sutton. He also has nine great grandchildren; Kohen, Nehemie, Taylee, Willow, Devenie, Javin, Jehemie, and Tatum Kirk, and Mack Wallace. Warren is also survived by his siblings JoAnn Harman, Richard Sutton, and Norma Bird. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2018 at 11am at the Oak Hills 5th Ward Chapel, 1960 North 1500 East, Provo, Utah. Viewings will be held Friday, January 12, 6-8pm and Saturday, January 13 from 9:30-10:45am at the same location. Interment will be at Eastlawn Memorial Hill, 4800 North Eastlawn Dr., Provo, Utah following the funeral service. Condolences may be expressed at www.bergmortuary.com. We are so grateful to the University of Utah Health Care Dialysis Center in Provo, Utah for the exceptional care they gave him three days a week for the past three years. Thank you also to the many healthcare professionals at Utah Valley Hospital who took such good care of him and all of his family during those last few days of his life.