Reeta Ramona Sutton

Reeta Ramona Sutton of Moses Lake, passed away on Jan. 20, 2008, after a long battle with Alzheimer's. She was 77.

Reeta was born in Corvallis, Ore., on Sept. 27, 1930, to Hubert and Viola Robbins. She lived her entire life in western Oregon until moving to Washington in 2001 to be closer to her son, Michael, living first in Richland, and then moving to Moses Lake in 2004.

Reeta married Carl Nordsten in 1953 with whom she had one son, Michael, and one daughter, Carla. In 1964, Reeta married Robert Jorgensen Sr. whose life had already been blessed with three children: Robert Jr., Raymond, and Martin. Their lives were further blessed with the addition of a daughter, Shirley, in 1966. In 1972, Reeta married James Sutton, a teacher, who was already the father of Timothy, Charles, and Ann.

Reeta's life was full of excitement, adventure, and unique experiences. She grew up and raised her family in the Eugene, Ore., area. In her early years, she was a bookkeeper for a lumberyard and a secretary in the district attorney's office. She later became the bookkeeper for her second husband's logging business. When they sold the logging business in 1968 and moved to Blachly, Ore., to raise cattle, Reeta became a rancher's wife. In addition to running the household, she lent a hand in everything from feeding cattle to changing irrigation pipe to driving the hay truck. After being widowed in 1971, Reeta decided to return to school at the age of 42. It was during her first year in college that she fell in love with anthropology. Over the next six years, she pursued her anthropology degree while she raised her family with the help of her new husband, Jim. At the age of 48, she graduated with honors from Oregon State University.

After Jim retired from teaching in 1979, they purchased Point Imports from its Portland owners and moved it to Eugene. Over the next six years, they built Point Imports into a successful business, selling brass, basketry and carpets to a variety of retail outlets in Oregon, Washington, and California. They made frequent buying trips to India, often traveling for hours by train into the remote reaches of India to see firsthand the production of the many items they stocked and sold in their business. These train trips were far from pleasant in the summer months, as the rail cars were neither air conditioned nor comfortable. But for Reeta and Jim, it was an adventure they cherished.

In addition to frequent business travel, Reeta and Jim enjoyed pleasure trips to Hong Kong, Japan, Honduras, El Salvador, Panama, Nicaragua, Belize, and many parts of Mexico. They also enjoyed a two-week trip to Germany and Austria with their son, Michael, in 1990. Reeta's sister and husband also joined them for this trip.

For the past 10 years, Reeta was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, having been baptized in McMinnville, Ore., by her son Michael. She served as a name extractor for genealogy work until such time as her Alzheimer's made it difficult for her to do so.

In addition to her parents, Reeta was preceded in death by her husbands Robert Jorgensen (1971) and James Sutton (1995), former husband Carl Nordsten (1973), and stepsons Raymond Jorgensen and Timothy Sutton. She is survived by her sister Dolores Lynch (Charles) of Eugene, Ore., son Michael Nordsten (Kate) of Richland, Wash., daughters Carla Nordsten and Shirley Carter (Jon) of Salem, Ore., stepdaughter Ann Luecke (Bill) of Exeter, Calif., stepsons Martin Jorgensen (Emily) of Honolulu, Hawaii, Robert Jorgensen (Pat) of Turlock, Calif., and Charles Sutton of Nashville, Tenn., and cousin Juanita Hampton (Warren) of Talent, Ore., numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews from her extended family also survive her.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Moses Lake Senior Living for the loving care they gave Reeta. Special thanks also go to Penny Weber and her staff at Lakeside Adult Family Home where Reeta spent the last 17 days of her life, as well as Central Basin Home Health and Hospice whose staff was always available day or night. The family is also deeply indebted to Bishop Rod Redford and his wife for the support and love they gave Reeta during her years in Moses Lake, and especially during the waning days of her earthly life as she prepared to return to the presence of her Heavenly Father. And finally, a personal thank you from Michael and Kate to Craig Morrison and Clint Scriven of Kayser's Funeral Home for the comfort and kindness they provided on the evening that Mom passed away.

Reeta's wishes to be cremated were honored. A memorial service for friends and family will be held on Saturday, Feb. 2, at 11 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 1321 Jadwin Avenue, in Richland, Wash. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you donate to the Johns Hopkins Alzheimer's Disease Research Center in Reeta's name. More information on how to do this may be found at www.alzresearch.org/giving.cfm.