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Edra Marie (Jarrell) Sutton, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away peacefully in her Burns Flat home on March 18, 2026, at the age of 90. She was born at home near Dudley, Missouri, October 9, 1935, to Wilson Monroe Jarrell and Emma Cecil (Caulley) Jarrell. She was the third eldest of seven children.
Except for a few years spent in Flint, Michigan, Edra’s childhood years were spent on the farm where hard work and devotion to God and family were taught. Edra graduated from Dexter High School in Dexter, MO in 1954. After graduation, Edra traveled to Modesto, CA to work. She answered phones at a radio station, she picked and packed fruit, and had a secretarial position. While home at Christmas in 1957, she met Bob (Robert) Sutton in Dexter, Missouri, and after a short courtship, they were married in Modesto, CA on April 20, 1958. Two children were born to this union, Elaine Marie and Thomas Raymond. Edra and Bob were married for 60 years until Bob’s death on January 12, 2019.
During the first years of marriage, Edra and Bob moved several times as required by Bob’s construction job. They lived in Sikeston, and Cape Girardeau, Mo and in Mount Vernon, IL. Eventually, Bob changed jobs and they settled in Marion, IL where she attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and obtained a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. In 1971 the family moved to Sikeston, MO and Edra was employed as an elementary teacher by the Richland, MO school district. They moved again in 1981 to Burns Flat, OK where Edra taught third grade and attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University, graduating with a Masters Degree of Education in Reading. In 1986, Bob and Edra moved to Wichita Falls, TX where Edra taught 7th grade English until her retirement in 1995. She and Bob then returned to Burns Flat, OK to become active participants in the important role of grandparenting.
Edra was a devout Christian, a member of the Burns Flat church of Christ and never missed a service until her health began to fail. She was always ready to help in times of need and often brought newcomers home for Sunday dinner. Edra loved to cook and made her most popular recipes for her family and friends on Sunday or other special occasions. Wherever she lived, she made many dear friends that she stayed in touch with throughout her life.
Edra was dedicated to her family. She worked hard and sacrificed much to make a beautiful, happy home for her family. She and her siblings shared a close relationship, often spending holidays together with bountiful food and many hard-fought hands of Rook. Edra enjoyed watching the Thunder games and would call her sisters or friends during half time to discuss the game.
Edra was preceded in death by her infant sister, Ida Lee, husband, Bob, brothers Wilson and Sam, and sister Barbara Sutton.
She is survived by her children, Elaine Loftiss and husband Jeff of Dill City,and son Thomas Sutton of Wichita Falls, TX, sisters Emma Bedwell of Tulsa, OK and Mandi Shaw and husband, Pete of Tulsa, OK; grandchildren Nathan Loftiss and wife, Keena of Altus, OK, Luke Loftiss and wife, Migmar of Edmond, OK and Jacob Loftiss and wife, Regina of Arcadia, OK; Great-grandchildren Kambrie, Maralea, Elaenia, and Cora.
In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials be made to Edra’s favorite television ministry, In Search of the Lord’s Way. P.O. Box 371, Edmond, OK 73083
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