Obituary of Patsy Sutton

Patsy Joan Wright Sutton died on January 8th, 2013, in Tulsa following a stroke at age of 74. Services will be held at 2PM on Friday, January 11th at First United Methodist in Tulsa. Born July 22, 1938, to Ray J. and Natalie Wright, Patsy was the eldest of four children. She grew up in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and in 1956 graduated from Stillwater High School. Already planning to major in Home Economics at Oklahoma State University, Patsy designed and made her own stunning red velvet formal to wear when she was elected homecoming queen. As a student at OSU, Patsy was a member of Kappa Delta sorority and was also a member of honor societies and other organizations, highlighting a lifelong ability to juggle multiple responsibilities in matchless fashion. At OSU, she met and married her husband of 54 years, Eddie Sutton. They married in June 1958, following Eddie's college graduation. In 1959, the Suttons moved to Tulsa, where Patsy taught Home Economics at Monroe Junior High School, while her husband coached basketball at Tulsa Central High School. In January of 1965, the Suttons became the parents of a son, Stephen. Soon afterwards, Patsy resigned from teaching to become a homemaker and full partner in Eddie's basketball coaching career. Over the next 42 years, Eddie would accept head coaching positions in Idaho, Nebraska, Arkansas, Kentucky, and finally, at Oklahoma State. "We were ready for an adventure," Patsy later recalled. In her role as coach's wife, she became an avid student of basketball. As a result, Eddie referred to her as "the best assistant coach I ever had" and often said,"Patsy knows almost as much about basketball as I do." In October 1968, while the Suttons were living in Twin Falls, Idaho, their second son, Sean, was born. The couple's third son, Scott, was born in Omaha, Nebraska, in June of 1970. After moving to Fayetteville, Arkansas, Patsy began serving as an unpaid academic and cultural coach to her husband's Arkansas University basketball team. An Arkansas assistant coach said Patsy gave the team "a mother-image that we could relate to." During their 11 years in Arkansas, Patsy actively participated in politics after she and Eddie forged an enduring friendship with then-Governor Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary. Patsy twice successfully ran Clinton gubernatorial campaigns in Washington County, Arkansas, and she and Eddie later stayed overnight at the White House as guests of the Clintons. An intense love of gardening was another pattern evident throughout Patsy's life. She grew beautiful flowers and plants everywhere she lived. From gardening to financial investment, fashion to politics, antiques to basketball, Patsy's lively, curious mind and analytical nature made her a woman whose advice and knowledge were highly valued by friends and family. Whatever she studied, she mastered, and, like all the best teachers, when she researched a topic, she shared what she learned with others. She also faced tragedy and adversity with resilience. In a 2002 interview she said, "Everyone faces adversity, no one escapes it, so it became a challenge to overcome it the best we could." In 2010, Patsy and Eddie retired to Tulsa, where their three adult sons and their families now reside. Her 9 grandchildren have always called her "Honey." Others have called Patsy "the rock," "the steady hand," "the anchor who never allowed triumphs or troubles to divide or destroy her family," or "the model of grace and dignity." No one, however, has summed up Patsy's life better than she, herself: "It's been more than we ever dreamed when we started. It's been fun and exciting, and it's been stressful. But mostly, it's been gratifying every step of the way." She is survived by her husband, Eddie, of the home, their children, Stephen and Robin Sutton, Sean and Trena Sutton, and Scott and Kim Sutton; grandchildren Stephen, Catherine and Caroline Sutton, Hunter, Spencer, and Parker Sutton, and Hallie, Lauren, and Maggie Sutton. Additional surviving family members include a brother, Gary Wright and spouse Sharon of Stillwater, and two sisters, Shirley Chesbro of Stillwater and Carol Aggers and spouse Richard of Tulsa; and 5 nephews, Tommy Ray Chesbro and Chad Oliverson , Doug and Debbie Chesbro, Todd and Julie Chesbro, David and Christy Wright, and Blake Wright. Memorial contributions may be made to The Scott Carter Foundation, PO Box 700448, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74170 or Sheerar Museum, 702 S. Duncan Street, Stillwater, OK 74074.