Irene Edith Sutton

Irene Edith Sutton, née Taylor, 80, of Oakhurst, California, passed away on 12 September 2023. She was born to parents Norman Geiger and Betty Mae Manny, on 05 June 1943 in Los Angeles, California. Irene was then adopted by Frederick and Gladys Taylor of Lakeside, California. Irene grew up with thirteen adopted siblings, eleven of whom survived to adulthood.

Irene graduated from the Convent of the Sacred Heart High School in El Cajon, California in 1960. After a brief relationship with Thomas Brunker, Irene gave birth to her son Michael in 1963. Irene made the difficult choice to give Michael up for adoption, and he was lovingly adopted by William and Barbara Murphy of Gardena, California.

Irene met Frederick "Rick" Sutton Jr. in 1965 while working for Pappy’s Pancake House in San Jose, California. They were married on March 25th, 1966, in San Jose, California. Together they raised two children, Laura Marie, born 1967, and Suzanne Lynne, born 1970. The family grew and flourished and loved their lives in San Jose, until Laura and Suzanne moved out on their own, and eventually married and began families of their own.

Irene loved her family unconditionally, defining the arc and substance of her long life. She was a survivor from the day she was born - the child of mere children likely torn apart from one another by war, adopted by a large and often troubled family, spending half a lifetime healing and redefining what it means to love. Her desire to live and laugh and love unconditionally continues to burn brightly in her children and grandchildren.

Irene is survived by: Frederick "Rick" Sutton, Husband, Michael Murphy, Son, Laura Sutton Aeling, Daughter, Suzanne Sutton Dobrotin, Daughter, Robert Mosley, Grandson, Frederick "Ricky” Dobrotin, Grandson, Erik Aeling, Grandson, Katherine "Kate" Dobrotin, Granddaughter, Ashley Bodner, Granddaughter, Gwendolyn "Gwen" Aeling, Granddaughter, Robert Mosley Jr., Great Grandson. She is also survived by five sisters Lorraine Brock, Stella Madden Manning, Dawn Mines, Gloria Shaffer, and Betty Sutphen, and two brothers, Dale and Steven Taylor.