Mark Sutton

Mark Orrin Sutton, 77, of Gordo, Al, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sunday March 29, 2026. After 2 months of suffering the after effects of surgery and COPD, he passed on "his hill", his way, and with the dignity he deserved.

Mark was born on April 19, 1948 to Orrin B. Sutton and Margaret K. "Kaye" (Cross) Sutton in Flint, Michigan.

Mark graduated from Arthur Hill High School in Saginaw, Mi.

Mark worked many jobs in his life. In his younger years he worked at Dow Corning, where he was on the team that invented silicone, until he broke his back. After which, he worked in sales. Selling anything from World Book Encyclopedias, where he was in the top 1% of sales nationwide, to Tom's Potato Chips. He also worked for a small fence company in Saginaw. The installation crews couldn't keep up with his sales so he became the premiere installer. No matter where he landed later in life he always seemed to wind up building fences. Big Hill Fence was his dream, where he loved selling and creating fences. After retiring from the fence business he ended his work career helping his son, Skip, with his plumbing company managing the crews, among other things.

Mark loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter early on. He was very fond of bird dogs and hunting small game especially the small fast migrating woodcock. His many hobbies often consumed him, but raising different animals seemed to prevail. At one point, he had 26 horses, and many chickens, ducks, geese, ginneys and (yes) 500 rabbits that he hoped to sell commercially. He also ran a 39 head herd of dairy cows. He almost always had something to raise and his pig farm was what brought him to Pickens County. He loved his farm North of Gordo where he raised pigs, chickens, and grass! He would spend countless hours cutting grass, not because it needed to be cut, but because he loved cutting grass!

Mark was a guarded person who hid his feelings. He would spend hours complaining about someone then jump through hoops to help the person he was just fussing about. He was honest, loyal, devoted, and had a work ethic second to none.

He did not express himself well or often, but if you knew him, you knew he loved Eva, his five children, his grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. As for friends...you couldn't ask for a better friend! Oh the stories that could be told!!

"He was a grumpy old man, but very loved, respected, and honored. I pray one day I can live up to the legacy he left."

Skip Sutton

Mark was preceded in death by his parents, Orrin and Kaye Sutton, bonus mom Sally Sutton and son Robert "Rob" Channell.

Mark is survived by his wife of 38 years, Eva Nell (Johnson) Sutton, sister Sharon (Ed) Crawford, brother Neil (Brenda) Sutton. Children, Mark "Skip" Sutton Jr (Melody), Noel Sutton (Veronica), Tammy Woolbright (Phillip), Sandy Glasgow (Robby), and Joyce Channell Lay. Mark is also survived by 14 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren.

A graveside memorial service will be held Thursday April 9, 2026 at 11:00am at Arbor Springs Church Cemetery in Tuscaloosa, Al.

Services are entrusted to Sunset Memorial Funeral Home in Northport, Al.