Maurice Earl Sutton

Mr. Maurice Sutton, age 91, of Audubon, IA, passed away on Sunday, June 08, 2025, at Audubon County Memorial Hospital.

Maurice Earl Sutton was born November 27, 1933, to Otha and Mabel (Pfister) Sutton of Minden, Iowa. They later lived in Walnut and Harlan, where he graduated high school, playing trumpet in several school bands. He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1955, where he was in ROTC and band and was dorm president.

After graduation, Maurie worked one summer as a Yellowstone park ranger, which gave him a lifelong love of national parks. He had many amusing stories about having to usher bears out of tourist areas.

Maurie served his Army time in Germany, first as a paratrooper, then with Courts and Boards. He always joked that the first eight times he flew in a plane, he only landed with it once. In 1957, he entered the U. Iowa Law School, finishing early. He met Gloria Girvan when they both worked at UI's hospital program for disabled children, and they married on June 17, 1961, in her hometown of Odebolt, IA. They moved to Seattle, where he spent most of his career practicing estate law. They raised two children, Hugh and Melanie.

Maurie was an active member of the University Christian Church and Lions Club. He also volunteered as a Cub Scoutmaster and with Community Services for the Blind, and for some campaigns in Seattle and later in Iowa. Maurie loved to car travel with his family, taking trips all over the US and frequently back to Iowa. He loved taking photos, and always had a couple camera bags with him on trips. He also loved camping at the Pacific Ocean, and built platform beds so the family could all sleep in their camper van.

Gloria and Maurie retired in 1996 to a family farm near Templeton, IA, moving to Audubon in 2009. They were active in the Exira Christian Church, where he served as an elder for many years and worked at the food pantry. They also helped with family members and elderly friends, as well as being stand-in grandparents for some friends' children. They enjoyed taking drives around the area and thrift shopping.

Maurie was a kind and patient man, good-tempered and always making corny jokes. He was always doing for others, but declined help for himself. After Gloria passed in 2018, he proudly lived independently up to his last week of life.

He is preceded in death by his wife Gloria, parents, and many adored and spoiled pets. He is survived by his children, Hugh and Melanie Sutton of Seattle; in-laws Bonnie Ekse, Barb (Don) Horak, and Jim Girvan and Hillary Maurer; many cousins and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at the Exira Christian Church in Exira, with Pastor Glen Meyers officiating. A luncheon will follow the service in the church's Fellowship Hall. Following the luncheon at the Harlan Cemetery in Harlan, IA, burial will occur.

Visitation with the family will be held one hour before the memorial service at the church on Wednesday.

Arrangments are handled by the Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Audubon.