(October 12, 1931 – July 27, 2015)
Edith Ann Bates Suggs, formerly from Panama City, passed away July 27, 2015. She was born in Mound City, Missouri, October 12, 1931, to Fred Bates and Alberta Hoover Bates. She married Joel S. Suggs Jr., June 12, 1949, in Georgia.
She lived in Missouri until her mother’s death when she was only 12 and soon after moved with her father to Pensacola, Florida. She worked hard from the age of 15 and met her husband Joel (Buddy) Suggs while she worked at a Panama City Theater. She worked for some time at First Federal Savings Bank until Joel was hired to work for the Boeing Company and they moved to Fort Walton. They made many moves during their married life, but in addition to living in Florida, they lived in Utah and Washington for the majority of their lives. While in Washington, she worked for the Sears store as a department manager and retired when they moved back to Panama City in the 1990s.
She is survived by her daughter Judy Suggs Backus Pickett, son-in-law Harlow Pickett III of St. George, Utah, and four grandsons, Tony Backus of Las Vegas, Nevada, Jacob Suggs, Caleb Suggs, and Benjamin Suggs all of Ft. Collins, Colorado and daughter-in-law Cherrie Suggs, Ft. Collins, Colorado. Edith is also survived by one sister, Irene Shelby, Pensacola, Florida; and one brother Dale Gibson and sister-in-law Carol Gibson, Gold Hill, Oregon.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Joel; son, David S. Suggs; her mother and father; two sisters, Dorothy Gibson and Mary Bates; and one brother, Harvey Bates.
During her illness, she was lovingly cared for by her daughter Judy, son-in-law Harlow, grandson Tony and Journey of Hope Hospice.
Funeral Services
- Funeral will be held Tuesday, August 4, at 2 p.m. at the Southerland Family Funeral Home.
- A viewing will be Tuesday, 1-2 p.m., prior to services at the funeral home.
- Interment will take place Tuesday, 3 p.m., beside her sweetheart at the Evergreen Cemetery, 3722 Highway 231 North, Panama City, Florida.
Arrangements for preparation and transportation have been made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff Street, St. George, 435-673-2454. Funeral, transport and burial arrangements also made by Southerland Family Funeral Home, 100 E. 19th St., Panama City, Florida, 850-785-8532.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to Journey of Hope Hospice, 475 E. Tabernacle St., of St. George, Utah 84770.