Harry A. Sutton Jr.

SUTTON, HARRY A., JR., 88 - of Shelby, NC, died Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at Cleveland Regional Medical Center. A native of Absecon, he was a son of the late Harry Asa Sutton, Sr. and Ellen Connor Sutton. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard during WWII and he was the pilot of the first landing craft at Utah Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944, which was also his 24th birthday. Mr. Sutton was retired as a supervisor for the Atlantic City Electric Company, "Right of Way Department". He was a member of Absecon Presbyterian Church in New Jersey, The Community Church of Vero Beach, Florida, and Big Springs Baptist Church in Hollis, NC. He was a member emeritus of Vero Beach Masonic Lodge #250, Scottish Rite and Amara Shrine Temple. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Frances Kunkely Sutton and his son-in-law, Robert Williams. He is survived by two daughters, Tyna Kellum of Maine and Dianne Kerley and husband Rev. Clyde Kerley of Shelby; five grandchildren, Richard Beauregard of New Jersey, Norman Beauregard, Jr. and wife, Christine of Murrells Inlet, SC, Lori Ann Beatty and husband, Michael of Aynor, SC, James Sutton Williams of Charleston, SC and Melinda Williams of Columbia, SC; and four great-grandchildren, Genna, Brittany Rain, Amber and Michael. The family will receive friends an hour before the service at Big Springs Baptist Church. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 6, 2008 at Big Springs Baptist Church. Inurnment will be at The Community Church Memorial Garden in Vero Beach, Fla. Officiating clergy: Dr. Jim Richardson. Memorials may be made to the Big Springs Baptist Church Music Ministry, 534 Big Springs Church Rd., Ellenboro, NC 28040; or to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, Office of Development, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, Florida 33607-1460. Clay-Barnette Funeral Home www.claybarnette.com