Dr. James Willard “Jim” Suiter died on March 13, 2019 at Elk Crossing in Duncan following a long illness. He was 78. He leaves his wife of 47 years, Edith (Brown) Suiter; his son, Rob and wife, Debra Shuwarger; his daughter Diane Cassinelli; his daughter, Pam Pease and husband, Don Pease; his two grandsons, JJ Cassinelli and Donald Pease; his sister, Andrea (Suiter) Brown and husband, Bob; and many loving cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his infant son, Russ. Born on November 19, 1940, and raised in Tipton, OK, the son of Clifton “Tip” and Geraldine (Kelly) Suiter, he was a longtime resident of Duncan. In his early years, he spent most of his time outdoors, either working on his family’s farm or playing sports, his favorite of which was baseball.
After graduating from Tipton High School in 1959, he attended Oklahoma Christian College followed by Southwestern Oklahoma State University, where he played baseball and was named All American in 1963 and 1964, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education in 1965. He played for and managed the Lubbock Hubbers semi-professional baseball team from 1966 to 1968. He met his wife, Edith Brown, in 1969 at Andrews, TX where they were both teachers and he was also coaching baseball and football.
He served in the United States Army Reserve from 1964 to 1970. He made a career change and enrolled in Palmer Chiropractic College, graduating in 1974 with Doctor of Chiropractic. He established a home in Duncan, where he maintained his practice for 33 years, until he retired in 2009.
Son of pioneers, he was happiest spending time exploring the pasture of his family’s land, observing wildlife and watching sunsets. He also loved cheering on OU and Dallas Cowboys football and Oklahoma City Thunder. He was inducted into the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015.
The family expresses gratitude for a full life lived, his example of courtesy and caring, his interest in his heritage and being a steward of the land, and his passion for health. The family is hosting a visitation at the Prairie House, 814 Oak Avenue, in Duncan on Friday, March 15, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm . A memorial service will be held at Whitt Funeral Home on Saturday, April 6, at 10:00 am .
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, April 6 , at Tipton Cemetery at 3:00 pm . In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Duncan Cancer Center as an expression of appreciation for their compassion and care during his battle with prostate cancer; or the Stephens County Humane Society whose tireless rescue and adoption efforts connected him with his beloved dog, Mattie.
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