Marian Elizabeth Sutton, 85, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 7, at Royal Plaza in Lewiston. Marian was born at home in Lewiston on Sept. 12, 1931, to Harry and Evelyn Smailes. She had six siblings.

In her childhood, Marian and her family spent many summers camping at Soldiers Meadow, where her lifetime love of the outdoors began. These were her fondest childhood memories, but she also shared many wonderful stories of helping her family raise potatoes and corn. Her favorite job was waking up early to help sack the corn. Aside from helping her daddy on the farm, she also loved to help her mama in the kitchen.

Marian graduated from Lewiston High School in 1949 and married the love of her life, Lee Sutton, on April 14, 1951. She was 19 and Lee was 17 when they married. Marian and Lee met at the Rollaway after she mustered the courage to ask him to skate with her. While dating, they became members of the Moose Lodge, where they loved to dance. Marian's favorite dance was the jitterbug, and she shared warm memories of the times spent dancing with her beloved Lee.

Before having her first child, Marian worked at Woolworth's in Lewiston. Once her oldest son, Scott, was born in 1952, she took time off from work to raise her children. Laurie was born in 1955, and Tony was born in 1959.

After her children grew, Marian resumed working. She worked for Sacajawea Motel for some time before she and Lee started Sutton Dismantling and Salvage in 1973. The "junkyard life" quickly became her passion; Marian did a little bit of everything at "the yard," from answering phones, bookkeeping and weighing customers on the scales. She continued to work at the family business (long after Lee passed away in 1981) until she "retired" in 2010.

Marian's passion in life was her children and grandchildren. She especially loved the summer months because it meant more time camping and boating with her family, watching her kids water ski and spending time outside with her grandkids. She was a wonderful, devoted and fun-loving mother and grandmother.

In August 2016, Marian moved to Royal Plaza. There she met and found friendship with her roommate, Lynn Martin, and her new-found best friend, Allen Nowling. She and Allen enjoyed many nights visiting in the fireside room, and he always walked her to the cafeteria for meals. Allen was there for her to the very end of her journey, and we are all grateful for the friendship they shared.

Marian was preceded in death by her husband, Lee Sutton; parents Harry and Evelyn Smailes; siblings Elaine Robinson, Irene Mosier, Robert Smailes and Lola Walters Jupert. She is survived by children Scott Sutton (Cherryl) of Richland, Laurie Sutton of Lewiston and Tony Sutton (Debbie) of Worley, Idaho; siblings Marilyn Smailes and Diana Young (Loren); nine grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

On behalf of all the family, we would like to extend our gratitude to all of the staff at Royal Plaza. You were all so wonderful to "Gram," and we will forever be grateful to you.

A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Red Lion Hotel in Lewiston.

Service Information

Date & Time

Saturday, February 11, 2:00 PM

Location

Hells Canyon Grand Hotel
621 21st Street
Lewiston, Idaho 83501

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