Ryan Anthony Sutton

Ryan Anthony Sutton, 26, died January 28, 2011, at his home in Springdale. Ryan was born Aug. 24, 1984, to Wayne and Dyann Cochran Sutton of Fort Smith. He spent 35 days in the neonatal intensive care unit at Sparks Regional Medical Center and was diagnosed with quadriplegic spastic cerebral palsy when he was 7 months old.

Although Ryan was confined to a wheelchair, he attended Springdale Public Schools and graduated in 2003. Ryan owned his own home and through Arkansas Support Network, was able to live alone with the assistance of his staff. He also worked with ASN, teaching disabilities etiquette, doing interviews and being featured in brochures, and he volunteered at Northwest Medical Center in Springdale, delivering mail to patients. He was interested in medicine and law and always wanted to work in Judge Mary Ann Gunn’s drug court.

Ryan’s favorite pastime was watching professional wrestling, and nothing made him happier than a roomful of his family, friends, staff members and wrestling buddies gathered for a televised event. For several years, he wrote an occasional wrestling column for The Morning News, and he enjoyed showing off the autographed wrestling photos, T-shirts and memorabilia that were gifts from World Wrestling Entertainment stars.

Ryan had a grin that could light up the room, an ornery sense of humor and great compassion for the people around him. While he was hospitalized, he wanted every nurse who came in to meet his family, meet his caregiver, meet his friends. He wanted them to know that only his body was compromised. His spirit was complete and whole.

Ryan is survived by his parents, Wayne and Dyann Cochran Sutton of Springdale; three siblings, his brother John Sutton and sister-in-law Mandy of Mountain Home, his sister Amy Sutton of Springdale and his brother Mitchell Sutton of Springdale; two nephews, Gabe and Lucas Sutton of Mountain Home; and a score of friends and loved ones.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church on Johnson Avenue in Springdale with Pastor Judy Van Hoose officiating. Visitation will follow from 1 to 2 p.m. Monday at McConnell Funeral Home, 137 N. Main St. in Greenwood, with the funeral at 2 p.m. David Orr will officiate. Burial will be in Dawson Cemetery in Milltown.

Pallbearers will be Steve Canada, Devin Cochran, Casey Cochran, Brian Cochran, Brett Sutton and Rance Turley.

Memorials may be made to Arkansas Support Network, 6836 Isaac’s Orchard Road, Springdale, AR 72762.