Jerry Sutton

Jerome Marshall "Jerry" Sutton
September 21, 1960 – May 20, 2025
Jerome "Jerry" Sutton passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in Provo, UT, surrounded by his loving family.
A devoted husband, loving father, gentle grandfather, caring brother and son, and compassionate friend, Jerry leaves behind a legacy marked by quiet strength, deep compassion, and boundless curiosity. He is survived by his beloved wife of 39 years, Janie Sutton, who remained faithfully by his side through the ups and downs of life, a testament of enduring love and commitment.
Jerry was a proud father of three sons: Jacob Sutton (Jill) of Denver, CO, and their son Ray; Lloyd Sutton (Philippa) of St. George, UT, and their sons Ezra and Jonah; and Cooper Sutton of Provo, UT. He was immensely proud of the men his sons had become and deeply cherished his role as Yampa.
Born and raised in Peru, Indiana, Jerry is also survived by his mother, Marilyn (Denton) Sutton. He is remembered with love by his siblings: Jane Sutton, Jeff Sutton (Teresa), Joe Sutton, Jordan Sutton (Angie), and Julie Shepherd (Ritch). He will always hold a special place in the hearts of his mother-in-law, brothers and sisters-in-law: Jane Kuroiwa Cazier, Guy Kuroiwa (Sheryll), Dan Kuroiwa (Amy), Don Kuroiwa (Lori), Ted Kuroiwa, Amy Vorwaller (Dave) Kirk Kuroiwa (Donna). Numerous nieces and nephews love him dearly. He is preceded in passing by his father, Jack Sutton, brother John, and father-in-law, Koji Kuroiwa.
Jerry developed a strong work ethic as a young boy running his paper route and working at his father's small-town Amoco station. He took great pride in working beside his father and brothers. Before his serious vocational studies, Jerry studied the art of being a magician. This provided material for fun family tales.
As a child in the dawn of the space age, Jerry began his training as an astronaut by hanging upside down in the backyard cherry tree. Eating cherries until his stomach hurt and the juice stung and dripped into his eyes. With the diagnosis of juvenile diabetes at age nine, his hopes of becoming an astronaut were brought to a halt. After visiting a builder friend's drafting office, he decided architecture would be a great career. From that moment there was never a question as to what his occupation would be. Visiting buildings, homes, even a gas station designed by American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, was a passion he later shared with Janie as she drove him all over the country to visit as many as possible. Fallingwater in Pennsylvania was one of their favorites, touring it three times. He often quipped that Architecture was the highest of the arts to which Janie would argue that Music was in the running. (Oops! They never argued, that was not in Jerry's nature.)
Jerry attended Brigham Young University in Provo, UT receiving an associate's degree in civil engineering. He took a two-year break to serve a church mission in the Denver, CO mission, then returned to Indiana to earn his architecture degree. He traveled far and wide from Egypt to India, Paris to Athens, down the Nile and across nearly every state in America.
In the fall of 1984 Jerry met Janie at the "After Turkey Dance" in Terre Haute, IN. They soon became inseparable at all the dances, deciding their feelings toward each other "were mutual". During their second date, Jerry met what seemed like all of Janie's extended family as they attended the play "It's A Miracle". Undaunted, he had found true love and informally proposed on her parents' porch that evening. He later shared he had juvenile diabetes, not knowing if she would want to continue the journey with him. Janie was undeterred and they bravely began their life together. Following their marriage in the Washington D.C. Temple, Jerry graduated from Ball State University, began his architecture career and added to their family with the birth of two sons, in Muncie, IN. The next year brought a dream job for Jerry as the Indiana State University Campus Architect, heralding an era of new buildings and renovations. The move to Terre Haute brought the addition of another son to the family. Jerry found that his greatest contribution in life was building his loving family.
As Jerry's greatest triumph began in Terre Haute, IN so did his greatest trial when he first experienced kidney failure. After 18 months on dialysis, he received a kidney and pancreas transplant in June 1996, and a second kidney transplant in 2003. Jerry faced his health challenges with strength and resilience never letting them define him. Jerry accomplished a successful design career which also included positions at Interdesign Group in Indianapolis, IN, Gerald Guy & Associates in Marion, IN, and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH. Every new town is a chapter in the family's story spent across many mid-west towns until Jerry's retirement in the year 2005.
Because he loved his time serving a mission in Denver, they moved to Centennial, CO, reconnecting with cousins there and enjoying being close to family who had also ventured west. The thinner air proved promising for Jerry's health as he and his family began a business renovating homes; deepening family bonds through labor and love. The family enjoyed summer road trips, National Park visits, architectural wonders, and many roadside attractions along the way. Jerry and Janie moved one last time to a sunny mid-century home in Provo, UT; a space that echoed the values they cherished and had long admired in Frank Lloyd Wright's work. Jerry adored his time working with Janie on the house and in the garden, tuning a resting place where he and Janie shared vision, grit, and dedication. It was truly their Labor of Love, working, traveling, and being together.
A true Renaissance man, Jerry was a writer and artist. He published three books, wrote volumes of poetry, and left behind an inspiring collection of architectural designs and intricate sketches. His creativity was matched by a sharp sense of humor and a keen intellect. Whether crafting a perfectly timed joke or pondering life's deeper questions, Jerry approached the world with a blend of warmth, wisdom, wit, and wonder. But his greatest legacy is the life he built with Janie and their three sons who fondly remember their father as never one to scold, but always one to teach, gently turning mistakes into moments of growth as a testament to his patience and unwavering love. Through his quiet strength and steady example he modeled kind men, each wise, deeply principled, and full of heart. Jerry's legacy is one of love, laughter, and a life lived with heart. His gentleness, humility, and resilience touched all who knew him and his words, art, and memory will continue to inspire.
In keeping with his lifelong spirit of generosity and curiosity, Jerry chose to donate his body to the University of Utah School of Medicine for research-an extraordinary final gift, continuing his dedication to learning and helping others even after death.
A faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jerry served in four bishoprics and enjoyed teaching the youth in Seminary classes. He was most recently part of the Pleasant View 9th Ward in the Sharon East Stake, where he was a quiet example of faith, service, and strength.
A celebration of a life well-lived will be held in his honor June 7th, 2025, at 11:00 am at the Pleasant View 9th Ward building. Additional memorials will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana (June 28 pending) and Littleton, Colorado at a near future date.