Mrs. Laverne C. Sutton

LaVerne was born on May 7, 1925 in Prairieville, TX to parents James Craft and Alva Sprague Craft and entered into eternal rest on April 25, 2015 at the age of 89, just 12 days before her 90th birthday.

LaVerne loved her family dearly and enjoyed entertaining family and friends. She especially enjoyed being “Nana” to her four grandchildren. She always liked to travel and cherished the years after she and her husband Duane sold their home and became full time RVers. They traveled extensively around the United States, visiting every state in the contiguous 48 states, and especially enjoying travels into Arizona and New Mexico. She was an excellent cook and was known for her candy making at Christmas, dumplings at all holiday meals, and pies for any occasion. In later years, LaVerne enjoyed watching westerns and listening to her favorite gospel artists. She was a very loving and caring lady who will be missed tremendously by her family and friends.

LaVerne was an extremely industrious and entrepreneurial woman who worked in a variety of positions over her life. While living in Corpus Christi, she was a secretary for a shipping company and enjoyed going on the ships that she worked with, where she would often be invited to eat with the Captain and enjoy the native food from that ship’s country. In 1969, she moved to Mabank and opened a shoe store, Sutton’s Shoe Inn, which she owned and operated for many years. After she “retired” from that business while in her 60’s, LaVerne commuted to Dallas every day where she worked as a secretary for an insurance company while running her own successful Mary Kay business from her home. She continued to sell Mary Kay cosmetics while she and Duane traveled around the country.

LaVerne was a devout Christian woman, who always found time to practice her faith and witness about God’s goodness. A life-long Baptist, she served in many capacities in her churches, including working in the youth department, teaching Sunday school, serving on various committees, and participating in Bible studies. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Mabank for 46 years.

LaVerne was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband of 66 years, Duane, one sister; Loraine Craft, and four brothers; A.J. (Buck), Hugh, James, and Leon Craft.

She is survived by her son Ronnie Sutton and wife Kathy of Eustace, son Paul Sutton and wife Janice of Mabank, grandchildren; Mindy Sutton of Oxford, MS, Stewart Sutton of Eustace, Jeff Sutton and wife Karli of Mabank, Chance Sutton and wife Brandi of Eustace, great-grandchildren; Brody Sutton of Eustace, Chloe Morris of Eustace and Lynlee Sutton of Mabank, sister-in-law Ann Sutton of Mabank, and many nieces and nephews.