T. Burton Sutterfield

T. Burton Sutterfield, beloved father, went to be with our Lord and Savior on September 01, 2020, having passed away of natural causes; concluding a happy and full life. He was born to Kirby and Ola ("Sade") Sutterfield on February 05, 1922, in Stuart, Oklahoma. The youngest of 4, he was preceded in death by his brother, Clinton ("Duke",) and his sisters, Cleo Palmer and Pauline Carl.

In Oklahoma City, OK, while attending a church youth group, he met Imogene Gist, his love, married for over 56 years before her passing on January 15, 1999. He will be laid to rest beside her at Elmwood Memorial Park.

The happy couple raised their family of two daughters and one son; Paula Thieleman (Ernest) of Houston, TX; Pam Bingham of Abilene, TX, and Kirby Sutterfield (Dave) of Amarillo,TX. Known as Papaw to his grandchildren, he is survived by Kera Watts; Michael Bingham (Shari); Kevin Thieleman; Kelly Thieleman Luna (Roland); Jason Sutterfield (Sarah); and also to his great-grandchildren, Emory, Davis, and Whitney Watts; Clara, Jude, and Heidi Sutterfield.

Survived also by nieces and nephews from both his and his wife's families, he was affectionately known as the Patriarch since he was the last surviving member of the older generation. He was also preceded in death by his son in-law Gerald Bingham.

After some college at Oklahoma Baptist University majoring in Music and with a young family to support, Burton began a banking career as an executive and also part-time Minister of Music in a small Baptist church. After surrendering to full-time ministry and service to our Lord, with Imogene at his side singing beautiful duets with his tenor to her soprano voice, he served as Minister of Music and Education at churches in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Georgia.

Retiring from full-time ministry while in Houston, TX, he moved to Abilene, TX, beginning a 20+ year career at Abtex Beverage Company before retiring again. He continued part-time as Music Minister serving wherever he was wanted and especially enjoyed singing in the senior choir at First Baptist and Abilene's Celebration Singers.

His lifetime love of music included completely restoring a very old upright piano while a young family man, then teaching himself how to read music and play the piano. As he aged and before his eyesight was further compromised, he committed to memory many hymns so he could always sit down to a piano or organ, play and sing those hymns in praise of our Lord.

His many other interests included art work, flower arranging, cooking and eating his original "recipes," taking up crafts of every type, using his creative mind to initiate a project in a most ingenious, uncommon, non-traditional way while being very proud of his finished project when and if it was finished.

Our father lived a life of faithful Christian service, was a most loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather to his family, interested in our day to day lives and welfare, always looking forward to special family times we could gather, spend time sharing our lives, eating way too much, and laughing much too hard. There were "I love yous" to share to the very end of his life.

He passed away peacefully while in the loving care of both Samaritan Hospice of Hereford, TX, and Virginia Green's residential care home in Amarillo, TX. He considered them both his "angels" and "his heaven on earth." We are so thankful to them.

Our family would like to suggest memorial donations be made to a hospice of your choice as they provide loving care to both your loved one and your family.

Due to Covid 19 and current restrictions, the family request attendance to the funeral service be private. The funeral service will be live-streamed and may be viewed by going to, https://www.elmwoodfuneral.com/obituary/TBurton-Sutterfield. Go to bottom of page below his obituary and click on the green tab that says live-streaming. You may also leave condolences for the family on the page.