James R. Suit

Father of two and husband of sixty-one years returns to God. Born on April 19, 1918, James R. Suit passed on Friday, June 26, 2009, after a short illness due to a fall. "Jim", as he was known to his friends, and "Ray" to his immediate family, resided in Kingsport since 2002 when he and his wife, Celia, moved from their home of 47 years in Franklin, NC. Jim was a WWII veteran having served with the Flying Tigers as a bomber pilot and Army Air Force flight instructor before being honorably discharged in 1947. After graduation from Duke University's School of Engineering in 1952, Jim was employed by Alcoa Aluminum Company and worked for their power generation division first building hydro-electric dams and finally as Vice-President of Alcoa's subsidiary, Nantahala Power Company in Franklin, NC. During his life in Franklin, he raised two children, Curtis and Debby, was Scout Master of Boy Scout Troop 221, was Deacon then Elder of Franklin Presbyterian Church, supported his parents in the Shoal Creek community of Murphy, NC, and supported his wife in her many activities.

He is survived by his wife, Celia Allen Suit; two children, Curtis and Debby Suit; three grandchildren, Laura Sykes Hite, Carl Henry Suit, and James Sterner Suit; two great-grandchildren, Montana Hite and Marina Hite. Also surviving are Christine Olson Suit, wife of Curtis, and Ronny Hite, husband of Laura Sykes Hite; a sister, Thelma Klien and her husband Bill; and many nieces and nephews.

Services and burial are private to family and caregivers. Letters of sympathy may be sent to Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Homes; 117 East Charlemont Avenue; Kingsport, TN 37660.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; 501 St. Jude Place; Memphis, TN 38105, in Jim's memory.