Patricia Ruffner Sutton

1938 - 2017

Patricia Ruffner Sutton

Apex, NC - Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Patricia Ruffner Sutton died on Friday, August 18, 2017. She was born March 5, 1938, in Fresno, CA. Pat was the only child of Charles Wade and Thelma Kidd Ruffner. Her family was from Kentucky and Tennessee, but since her father was a golf professional, his first job as such was in Fresno. Due to her father's job, they were sometimes in two or three residences in one school year. These were mostly Kentucky, Florida, and Michigan as Pat was growing up. She graduated high school in Michigan and attended The University of Michigan.

Pat had a very out-going personality and worked in sales positions in most of her jobs. Eventually she got into Real Estate and while living in Waynesville, NC, owned her own real estate company, Sunburst Realty. Pat specialized in commercial real estate and large tracks of land. At that time, Sunburst Realty was the largest real estate business in Haywood County. Her business acumen lead to her being voted Business Woman of the Year in 1985.

Pat was very active in charitable work and was a member of several organizations helping the community. For example, she organized a ladies golf tournament every year and all proceeds went to community projects. Pat was awarded the N.C. Order of the Long Leaf Pine for volunteer community service by Governor Martin in 1990. She was also on Folkmoot USA's first Board of Directors. Pat worked hard every year in staging, scheduling, etc. with Folkmoot. She emceed many performances and eventually became President of the organization for two years. She loved working with the foreign dance groups and spent all of her awake time at Folkmoot when they were in town.

She married her love, Bill Sutton, in 1993 and they moved to Apex, NC when he took the job as Town Manager and have lived in Apex since. Pat and Bill both love Apex! For close to two years she was proudly the First Lady of Apex when Bill was asked to be Mayor.

She is survived by her husband Bill and three daughters: Debbie Nolen, Cara Mills, and Tricia Coppedge. Five grandchildren: Jim Nolen III, Cooper Mills, Bella Mills, Lucy Coppedge, and Wade Coppedge. She is also survived by three stepsons: Kevin Sutton, Derek Sutton, and Ethan Sutton. Additionally she has twelve step-grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends at Apex Funeral Home, 550 W. Williams Street, in Apex on Sunday, August 20, 2017 from 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm. The funeral service will begin at 2:00 pm with burial following in Apex Cemetery.

Condolences may be sent to www.ApexFuneral.net