Newton James Suitt, age 72, of Little Rock, died Sunday in the Veterans Administration Hospital. He was born on January 9, 1938 in Ft. Smith, Arkansas to the late Newton James, Sr. and Nerine Austin Suitt. Reared and receiving his early education in Lake Village, Arkansas, he later attended the University of Arkansas. Mr. Suitt retired from the K-Mart Corporation after 25 years of service to the company. He was a United States Army veteran of the Viet Nam War. Jim was a very active and loyal Free and Accepted Mason. He was Past Master of Crescent Lodge No. 403, North Little Rock, and Magnolia Lodge No. 60, in Little Rock, where he was a Pillar of Solomon recipient. He was currently serving as secretary of Mary Williams Lodge No. 307, Ferndale, Arkansas, where he had been selected as Mason of the Year for 2010. He conferred over 350 Masonic Degrees and helped a great number of Free Masons learn their Masonic lectures. He was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, and received the honor of becoming a member of the Knight Commander Court of Honor of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of America in December 2009. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Faye Neeper Suitt, of Little Rock, one daughter, Melissa Jane Suitt of Midwest City, Oklahoma; by two brothers, William Josh Suitt of Washington, and John Russell Suitt of Memphis, Tennessee; by three nieces and three nephews. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday morning, June 3, 2010 in the Oak Park Missionary Baptist Church with Brother David Harris officiating. Committal service with Masonic Rites will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday afternoon at Lono Cemetery, south of Malvern, Arkansas on Hwy 9. Pallbearers will be: Stony Suitt, John Sadler, Bob McKeon, Timothy Calhoun, Mikey Bishop, Michael Bishop, Sr, Frank Talley, and Phillip Page. Memorials are requested to Oak Park Baptist Church, 8200 Flintridge Dr. Little Rock, Arkansas 72210, or to the Lono Cemetery Association, 1321 Fowler Street, Malvern, Arkansas 72104. Online condolences may be made via jafunkfuneralhome.com.

Published June 2, 2010