James C. Sutherland

James Clayton Sutherland, Jay to everyone who knew him, Jim to those who didnt, was born to Eugene and Marilyn Sutherland on March 11, 1952 in Spokane Washington. For nearly 37 years of marriage, Jay managed to fall more deeply in love with his wife, Debra, and with Christ, while demonstrating to all who saw, especially his children, daughter Erin Kristine and son James Clayton, Jr., J.C., the epitome of the institution set up by our Lord. Prior to devoting himself to his wife and children, in a sign of things to come, Jay had devoted himself to helping shape, for better and for worse, his younger sisters, Elizabeth Joan Bundy and Tamara Lynne Douglas. Jay blazed a trail into heaven April 4, 2011, where he will eventually be followed by his wife, children, parents, and sisters. In his younger years he enjoyed water and snow skiing and spending time at the family lake cabin in Idaho, where he spent much of his time trying to get a rise out of his loving, yet tormen, grandmother, particularly when trying to teach her Pomeranians how to swim. When his knees no longer shared his love of waterskiing, his love of watersports evolved into a scuba diving hobby he shared with his son. He was an avid photographer, and time spent looking through the lens was often the only time he was silent in a group. Jay had other passions that translated into careers for his children, a passion for debate and argument, and a passion for music.Jay has left this world with a physical legacy of buildings that vary from grain elevators in Eastern Washington to luxury homes in Seattle to missionary homes in Haiti and the humblest yet model homes for the least of these in Mexico. He also left this world with a legacy of intangibles to those he touched while teaching or simply razzing them with that mischievous twinkle in his crystal blue eyes. As a result of his lifelong investment in his relationship with Christ, and because he lived that relationship out in a tangible way, Jay left this world fulfilled with love from his family and fierce pride in his children. After dealing with physical challenges for the last two years of his life, during the final time of prayer shared with Debby Sunday night, Jay prayed that the Lord wouldnt make him better, but that He would make him well. Monday morning, Jay was made well with the Lord in heaven.