Billy Joseph Sutter, 87, Carthage, Mo., passed away Palm Sunday morning, April 5, 2020, at the St. Luke’s Nursing Center Carthage, Mo.
Bill was born on Oct. 19, 1932, in Carthage to Kenneth Leon Sutter, and Anna Lois (Burnett) Sutter. He graduated from West Plains High School. He then received his bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma Baptist University and his master’s from Tulsa University. He also attended Southern Baptist Seminary, Louisville, Ky. He married Janet Anne Conrad, on June 26, 1953, at First Baptist Church, Tulsa, Okla.
From Missouri to Oklahoma, Texas, North Carolina, Florida, Virginia and back home to Carthage, Bill’s professional life centered around music and ministry through singing, song-leading, song-writing, teaching, preaching and piano tuning. Throughout these efforts and his side pursuits into selling real estate and writing the column “Life Matters” for The Carthage Press, the common thread running through everything Bill did, even into his final days, was relationship building, encouragement, and “doing what pleases the Father” (John 8:29).
Locally, for many years, Bill was the Choral Music Teacher for Carthage High School. He also served as Music Minister for many churches in Southwest Missouri; including First Baptist Church of Carthage, Grace Episcopal Church of Carthage, First Baptist Church of Webb City, Harmony Heights Baptist Church of Joplin, and First Baptist Church of Lamar.
Bill is survived by his wife, Janet, daughter Lynn, son Jonathan, two grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
A public celebration of life service will be announced by the family at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for ongoing prayer for Jan. Although the coronavirus was not a factor in Bill’s death, in the spirit of his life-long example of compassion and care, the family asks that any memorial gifts be in the form of donations that benefit the first responders in the COVID-19 pandemic. Bill’s last wish was that all would come to know God and God’s love.
Online condolences may be expressed through www.knellmortuary.com.
