Mary Ellen Sutton, age 73, of Knoxville, Tennessee, passed away on the afternoon of March 14, 2017.

Born in Selma on June 26, 1943, Mary Ellen joins her husband, Samuel David Sutton Sr., in eternal sleep. The couple married on June 16, 1979, in Prattville. For Mary and Sam, everything started and ended with each other.

Mary is preceded in death by parents; Grady and Pearl Bowden; brothers, Raymond Bowden and Clyde Bowden; and sisters, Nell Hilderhoff, Ann Davis and Betty Webb.

Mary leaves to cherish her memory her eight children; Pam Barrientos (Jaime), Douglas Cason (Corky), Evie Jo Cannon, Samantha Sutton (Nicole), Samuel David Sutton Jr. (Marcy), Daryl Sutton (Tammy), Jason Sutton (Pam) and Jamie Roach (Jeff); 18 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; brother, George (Delores) Bowden; and sister, Ida O’Quinn; and numerous nieces and nephews; and other precious family and friends.

Mary had a deep tenderness for cemetery care. Always pained by the sight of graves that seemed forgotten and had no flowers, it was her request that your final act of love for her to be paid forward.

Memorial contributions can be made to a cemetery trust with significance to the donor. Flowers should be left with another who has long been forgotten. The family will receive friends on Saturday, March 18, 2017, from noon until 2 p.m. at Berry Highland West Funeral Home, 9913 Sherrill Blvd. in Knoxville. Funeral services will be held in the chapel of Berry Highland West at 2 p.m. with interment following in Berry Highland West Cemetery. Please sign Mrs. Sutton’s online register book at www.berryhighlandwest.com.