Joe Carroll Sutton

Joe Carroll Sutton, 81, of the Greens Creek Community in Sylva, NC passed away after a courageous battle with cancer on Tuesday, July 9th, 2024. He was born on September 29, 1942 to the late Odell Candler and Mildred Cope Sutton. 

He was a proud father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He loved his family immensely. He enjoyed spending time with them and telling them his tales. 

He will be remembered for his earthly passions: hunting turkey, deer and grouse and fishing for trout and bass. He spoke often of his hunting and fishing adventures in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. He loved living in “God’s Country”. His stories of his family and of growing up in the mountains will never be forgotten. 

Joe was a paper maker by trade having followed in the footsteps of his father and oldest brother. He worked at the Mead Corporation in Sylva until its closing. He then worked at Inland Container in Indiana and Willamette Industries in Kentucky. When the former Mead Corporation property was purchased by Jackson Paper Manufacturing, he moved home to the mountains to assist in the opening of the plant. He remained at Jackson Paper until his retirement in 2002. 

Joe went home celebrating a life well lived and rejoicing at his reunion with loved ones who had gone before him. His family takes comfort in knowing that he entered the “Heavenly Hunting Club” with a big grin on his face (those who knew him know this grin was part joy and part mischief). 

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers James (Jim) Sutton and Bob Sutton, niece Traci Sutton and the mother of his children, Betty Dillard Sutton. 

Left to cherish his memory are daughters Teresa Dillard and husband Michael (Mick) and Jody Woodring; honorary daughter Shelly Legg; grandchildren Kristin Stevens and husband Vaughn, Trista Seagraves and husband Justin and Joshua Woodring; great-grandchildren Gage Stevens, Ryleigh Stevens, Kooper McCoy and Spencer McCoy. He is also survived by his sister Linda Sutton Beagles; nieces Krissie Red and Jill Cook and their families. 

A memorial service in his honor will be held at Appalachian Funeral Services and Crematorium in Sylva on Saturday, July 20th, 2024, at 12:00PM. Per his wishes, part of his ashes will be buried at Fairview Memorial Gardens in Sylva and part will be scattered at some of his favorite places in the mountains. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you spend time making memories with your loved ones in the mountains that he so loved.