Mearl Edwin Sutton, Sr.

Mearl Sutton Sr, 91, of Oregon, Ohio, passed away peacefully on January 14, 2026.

Mearl was born to Charles Sutton and Dorothy (Massel) Sutton on June 8, 1934 in Toledo, Ohio. He grew up in Point Place (The Best Place Anyplace) and attended Waite High School. He married Ann Marie McCarthy on June 4, 1960.

Growing up in the last house on 105th Street, he was naturally a water bug. He enjoyed swimming, diving and fishing. He trapped muskrat (marsh bunnies) and took the stretched skins on the bus to downtown Toledo to sell for 25 cents each. As a teen, he worked at Willow Beach Park.

He joined the US Navy when he turned 18. He served active duty in the Korean War in the Korean Peninsula, Philippines, and Guam.

Mearl spent most of his career working at Toledo World Terminal (Toledo Overseas Terminal) as a forklift operator. He retired from the docks in 1996. He also had stints at General Mills, Vernor’s, and Wonder Bread Bakery.

Mearl was a jokester and helper. He had a way to crack a corny joke at the right time. He was also always looking to help…, for better or worse. His most memorable moment of attempting to help was when he and Ann went to K-Mart on Navarre to pick up a prescription. Ann drove because Mearl’s vision was bad and hadn’t driven for years. When Ann went inside to pick up her prescription, Mearl saw a parking space that was a couple spots closer than where they were parked. He wanted to make her return walk shorter. He slid over to her seat, popped it into drive, and gave it some gas. The seat was moved forward too far to lift his foot off the gas pedal. He quickly spun around the K-Mart parking lot, rapidly gaining speed as he exited the lot, then crossed an empty field. He was approaching McDonald’s from the side and was about to crash into the drive through line. At the last second, he was able to swerve a bit and ram into the electrical transformer. He was banged up but safe. McDonald’s was shut down without electricity for the day. His family is still thankful for McDonald’s composure, Toledo Edison’s response, his insurance company’s understanding, Mayor Marge Brown’s on-the-scene attentiveness, and Judge Jeff Keller’s compassion.

He was a successful sponsor for many people that struggled with alcoholism. He enjoyed helping others as part of the leadership team of the Idle Time Club on Genessee street in East Toledo.

Mearl was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Sutton, Dorothy Sutton Wiley, and stepfather Bill Wiley; his brothers, Charles Sutton and Robert Sutton; and sister JoAnn Woods. He is survived by sons Mearl Sutton, Jr. (Veronica) and Mark Sutton (Boni); Grandchildren Thea Viery (Evan), Amber Holmes (Adam), and Wade Sutton (Courtney); great-grandchildren Elijah Holmes, and Ann Marie Holmes; many beloved nieces and nephews; and special friends Kim and Ron Jaquillard.

A celebration of life will take place at Freck Funeral Chapel, 1155 S. Wynn Rd., Oregon, Ohio on Friday, January 23, 2026 from 3:00pm to 6:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like to support the Idle Time Club. If you choose to donate, please send to his sons. They will collect and forward to the club.