James C. Sutter, 92, of Wiscasset, died April 27 at his residence.
He was born in Wiscasset on Feb. 6, 1920, a son of Brice J. and Bertha (Hanson) Sutter.
He grew up on his parents’ farm, the site of the present Wiscasset Airport. He attended Wiscasset schools. After leaving school he went to work for Doyle’s Bus Service in Bath. His next job was working at Bath Iron Works. He entered the U.S. Army during WWII. He spent several months in England before being part of the second wave of soldiers to hit the beach at Normandy.
On Sept. 8, 1946 he married Jean Bailey and they bought a farm in North Newcastle, where they resided until the early 50’s. They moved back to Wiscasset and he went on to become one of the last jail keepers at the old brick jail on Federal Street. He was employed at the Brunswick Naval Base for 15 years as a carpenter. He then went to work building boats at Nick Roth’s Boat Shop in Edgecomb. He also designed and built small boats for his son-in-law’s seaweed harvesting business in the mid 1970’s.
He was a charter member of the Wiscasset Yacht Club where he helped build the original Club House. He was a member of the Saint Andrews Society, a life member of D.A.V., served on the Budget Committee in Wiscasset for 23 years and was Wiscasset Harbor Master for many years.
He enjoyed cooking, gardening, reading, hunting and anything to do with boats and the water. He and his friend, Dick King had great fun when they were hired to sail their boat in the movie Carousel filmed in Boothbay in 1955.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Jean B. Sutter of Wiscasset; son, David J. Sutter of Wiscasset; daughter, Susan J. Sutter of Alna; sister, Elinor Leslie and husband Dean of Akron, Ohio; grandchildren, Samantha Bishop, Elizabeth Freeman-Dumais and Noah Freeman; great grandchildren, Alexis Bishop, Lily and Haley Dumais and Calia Freeman; and many nieces and nephews.
Graveside service 1 p.m., Sat., June 16 at Greenlawn Cemetery in Wiscasset. A reception will follow.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lincoln County Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 7, Edgecomb, ME 04556 or a charity of one’s choice.
Condolences may be made online at www.Daiglefuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are by Daigle Funeral Home, 819 High Street, Bath.
