Annunda Lee Sutton, known by some as “Ann”, was born in Glen Allen, MO on November 27, 1927 and passed on December 14, 2017 at the age of 90. She was the daughter of the late Pete and Camille Chronister. She grew up in Ellington, MO as the middle child of five. She was preceded in death by her adoring brothers Jiggs and Lub; and her beautiful loving sister Quinnie. She is survived by her oldest brother Bill Chronister and three wonderful sisters-in-law: Lowena, Joan, and Marge.
She is survived by her loving children: Ronald “Cal” Sutton of Millersville, Mo.; Lee Anne (Dennis) Boss of Henderson, Nv.; Kathy Isam of Friendswood, Tx.; her step-sons Michael (Carolyn) Sutton of Berryville, Ar.; and Harold Sutton of Oologah, Ok; thirteen grandchildren; eighteen great-grandchildren; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
As a large family during the depression, times were hard. When she was a young girl, she once worked all day picking cotton until her hands were bleeding. She took home the money she had earned and gave it to her mom to buy groceries. But don’t let that sweetness fool you; she did have a curious side as well. When she was also a young girl, her Dad sent her to the store one day to get a piece of twisted rope chewing tobacco. She said she was walking home and that ole tobacco smelled so good, so her curiosity got the best of her and she thought she would just take a big bite and try it. Well, I don’t think that worked out so well for her.
She was always a very beautiful lady and was crowned Prom Queen during her high school days. Although it’s been over seventy years since her high school years, she kept in touch and treasured the lifelong friendships of her surviving classmates.
During her early career, she was a telephone operator. She would answer the phone, “Operator Number 6” and the person would ask to be connected to a certain individual. Her office was located with a window looking onto Main Street of her small hometown. If they asked to be connected to someone that she knew wasn’t home, she would tell them “Well, Mr. Chronister isn’t home; I just saw him driving south on Hwy. 106.” I guess you can use your imagination to figure out how the game “Operator” got started.
She was also a typesetter and worked for the newspaper in Ellington, Piedmont, and Columbia. She was united in marriage to Stanley “Sonny” Sutton and after ten years, happily, relinquished her career for a more important role as a mother. She lived every minute for her children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. They were her greatest treasures and accomplishments. She was truly the best mom, grandmother, and aunt and our family was so blessed to spend many memorable years with her. Some people dream of lifetime achievement awards; she just wanted to be a mom and grandmother.
She thrived on the love and attention of her kids and grandkids. It didn’t matter what the kids were doing to her as long as they were giving her undivided attention. She would sit for hours and let the grandkids torture her with unique hairstyles created by four-year olds; play guitar hero on the Nintendo Wii; go on shopping trips to the Dollar Store; enjoy a cup of coffee over conversation; eat ice cream, chocolate or cheesecake; or push her down the hallway in her wheelchair popping wheelies. Or as you noticed in the photo by the memory book, she would also let her son tie her wheelchair to his Harley Davidson, put a do-rag on her head, tell her to hold his beer and hang on. It was all fun and games until Cal started the motorcycle.
She was a member of the Methodist Church and was a Sunday School teacher at one time. Although she was happiest when surrounded by her family, she just had a love for the simple things is life. She loved her plants and flowers, crocheting blankets for her grandbabies, reading, and watching the birds and wildlife. But her favorite pastime was fishing.
 
Some of her favorite sayings were: “I love you more” and “I will always be in your heart”. So please continue to celebrate her life by enjoying things the way she did. Next time you see an eagle or cardinal flying by, smile and know that she is soaring as high as that eagle and watching over us. She is at peace and in a better place. Picture her laughing with her sister, talking non-stop to her two best friends Nadine and Mary, or fishing on the riverbanks of heaven with her brothers.

Visitation was held Monday, December 18, 2017 from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm at Ruegg Funeral Home, Piedmont, MO. Funeral services were held Tuesday, December 19, 2017, at 1:00 pm also at the Piedmont Chapel. Pastor Tad Kruithoff ministered to the family. Trevor Bluth, Koty Crocker, Jacob Crocker, David Casey, Mike Pennebaker, Mack Chronister and Phil Chronister served as pallbearers. Burial followed at Ellington City Cemetery. Online condolences can be made at www.rueggfuneralhomes.com