Frank Sutherland III

SIKESTON — Frank Russell “Buz” Sutherland III, of Sikeston, formerly of Charleston, died Thursday, April 4, 2024, at Mercy Hospital Southeast in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Dec. 3, 1949, to the late Frank Russell Sutherland Jr. and Daisy Barfield Sutherland. On March 24, 1984, he married Tammy Carolyn Beaty, his loving wife of 40 years.

Buz was raised on a small farm on Big Lake in rural Charleston — row crops, mules, horses, chickens, cows, pigs, dogs and more. When chores were complete, he often rode his bike to town to see his friends or go to the “picture show”. His friends often came to the farm to work and play. His mother (and extended family) were great cooks, and at that time he thought everyone ate that way. He later realized what an idyllic childhood he had and was beyond thankful.

Buz graduated from Charleston High School, Class of 1968, and the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1972. Upon graduation, he served as Project Consultant with the Missouri State Inter-Agency Council for Outdoor Recreation. He then joined the Missouri Division of Commerce and Industrial Development, serving as a Missouri Community Betterment Specialist and later as a project manager for the National Marketing Section. In 1982, he returned to Charleston to become the owner and operator of Sutherland Oil Co. He then spent 17 years as the director of the Small Business Development Center, College of Business, at Southeast Missouri State University, connecting with the entire Bootheel region. Upon retirement from the university, he became executive director of the Southeast Missouri Economic Development Alliance (SMEDA) at the University of Missouri Delta Center in Portageville, before retiring in earnest.

Buz was community minded and loved to serve. He was Santa for the Charleston kindergarten for over 30 years. He also served as Santa for the Charleston Junior Study Club and others. In addition, he had many community and professional affiliations: Susanna Wesley Family Learning Center Board of Directors and past president; Mississippi County Port Authority, serving as past board member and treasurer; Charleston Chamber of Commerce; life member of the Mississippi County Historical Society; the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce-Small Business Committee; Cape Girardeau Vision 2000 and 2020 councils; Workforce Investment Board of Southeast Missouri-Executive Committee; Economic Development Council charter member and board member; Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Economic Development Council; and World Trade Center-St. Louis member.

Buz had such a kind heart and was a friend to many. He had a wonderful sense of humor, which will live through his many “Buz-isms”. He was a special man and will be deeply missed.

His family wishes to thank the capable staff of the ICU and Mercy Hospital Southeast for the attentive and loving care shown to both Buz and Tammy during his three-week stay there.

In addition to his wife, survivors include his nephew, George Russell “Buck” Story, and his children, great-nephew George Marshall Story and great-niece Cary McClure Story; his niece, Pamela (Mark) Rounsley, and her children, great-nephews Steven and Allen and great-niece Cassidy; niece, Carolyn (Matt) Muller and great-nephew Addison Fleming and great-niece Abby Fleming; brother-in-law, Earnest E. (Pete) Story; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Timothy and Sherry Beaty; and numerous cousins and dear friends.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Sara Sutherland Story; his niece, Mary Margaret Story Yarbrough; his uncles and aunts, Harold and Anne Sutherland, Harry and Marueen Sutherland, Buford and Catherine Sutherland and Richard and Louise Sutherland; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, William R. and Marian V. Kirchner Beaty; and numerous cousins.

The family will receive friends from 1:30 p.m. until the funeral hour at 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 9, at United Methodist Church in Charleston. The Rev. Jennifer Moxley will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, plants and gift items, the family kindly requests memorials be made to the Mary Margaret Story Yarbrough Scholarship Fund, c/o Focus Bank, P.O. Box 99, Charleston, MO 63834; The Susanna Wesley Family Learning Center, P.O. Box 187, Charleston, MO 63834; or The Mississippi County Historical Society, P.O. Box 312, Charleston, MO 63834.

Arrangements are under the direction of the McMikle Funeral Home of Charleston.

Online condolences may be shared at www.mcmiklefuneralhome.com.