B. E. "Gene" Sutton, 94, of Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community and formerly of Fairbury and Arkansas died at 5 pm, Sunday, November 27, 2016 at Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community, Chenoa.

Funeral services will be 2 pm, Friday, December 2, 2016 at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury; with Pastor Daryl Evans officiating. Burial will follow in the Avoca Township Cemetery, rural Fairbury.

Visitation will be from one hour prior to his service on Friday also at the funeral home in Fairbury. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be directed to the First Baptist Church, Fairbury; or Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community, Chenoa.

Gene was born July 30, 1922 in Fairbury; the son of George H. and Ellen M. (Kerr) Sutton. He married Melvis Gibb on June 19, 1942 in Fayette, MO. She preceded him in death October 23, 2009. His parents, one brother, one sister and one granddaughter, Sondra Rieger also preceded him in death.

Survivors include two daughters, Alyce (Chuck) Taylor, El Paso, IL; Sandra (Steve) Rieger, Forrest, IL; one son, Dale Sutton, Max Meadows, VA; six grandchildren, ten great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Mr. Sutton served our country in the US Army National Guard; then he drove a truck from Chicago to St. Louis for 17 years. After retiring from trucking he served as the Superintendent of the Downs Water Plant, Downs, IL.

After retirement, the Sutton's moved to Fairfield Bay, AR where they resided for the next 20 years. While in Arkansas he actively served his church, Fairfield Bay Baptist Church as a Deacon and was a past president of the Fairfield Bay Lions Club. In 2006 they returned to Illinois and made their home in Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community, Chenoa; to be close to their family.