Mourning longtime West Seattle community leader Helen Sutton

Thanks to Judy Pickens for telling us about this while we were visiting her Fauntleroy home on other business today: Longtime West Seattle entrepreneur and community advocate Helen Sutton has passed away. She ran the La Grace Dress Shop in The Junction for many years – a place where many young people in West Seattle got their first job and were mentored by Ms. Sutton. She also was a Board Member Emeritus of the West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor) according to the Y’s Josh Sutton (no relation), who kindly assisted us with research on Ms. Sutton’s many achievements – such as her term as president of the Washington State Federation of Women’s Clubs in the mid-’50s (read about it here – the story includes a lot of biographical information too). She also was closely involved with South Seattle Community College, where a rose garden in the Arboretum bears her name. Ms. Sutton died last Friday in Yakima, where she had moved to be close to her niece, and was 95 years old. Her niece is still deciding on whether to have a service – if there is one, we’re told, it’ll be here in West Seattle (where Ms. Sutton also had been a member of Fauntleroy Church and a resident of The Kenney) but not immediately.

celeste17 June 24, 2009 (3:34 pm)

I hope there is a service I woild like to pay my respec
ts. She was a well respected lady

LAintheJunction June 24, 2009 (3:40 pm)

Helen was a dear friend and neighbor and she will be sorely missed. She was a leader in everything she was involved in – your fine list above is only the tip of the iceberg of her decades-long community involvement.

Helen was also the first woman President of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, the chair of the scholarship committee at SSCC, in the leadership of PEO, and an active member of the Outreach (Social Justice) Ministry at Fauntleroy Church. She loved the youth of our community and was a mentor and inspiration to many – including me. Helen truly made West Seattle a better place.

Helen passed peacefully with her family around her and had a life well-lived in service to others. Thank you for remembering this fine woman and all she has meant to us.

carrieann June 24, 2009 (4:46 pm)

She sounded like a remarkable woman. May she rest in peace.

kyle minaglia June 24, 2009 (5:43 pm)

Ms. Sutton was a wonderful women and also has a great life story that i will remember. She will be missed.

Meghan June 24, 2009 (6:10 pm)

I was lucky enought to know Helen and she was truly a remarkable woman. She will be missed.

Jean Timmermeister June 24, 2009 (7:47 pm)

I met Helen as a student when she was teaching at WS High school in the 1940s; later worked with her at the YWCA Board of Management; followed by a meeting in her home 1950s to start a Jr. Wo’s Club in West Seattle.
As a mentor for volunteer work, her teachings have held me in good stead- she was a remarkable woman: I will never forget her.One of the finest and most talented women I have ever known. Bless her: I will never forget her! Jean

fiz June 24, 2009 (11:10 pm)

Helen and Milt provided scholarships with their own resources for dozens of young people. their legacy lives on.

Michele Hutchison June 25, 2009 (9:30 am)

I started working at LaGrace in high school. She was a wonderful boss and a great role model. At the time I wanted to own a clothing store, so I looked up to her. Her shop was a collection for all ages. She was very generous with us gals that worked there. It was fun to go to work. At Christmas time she would always pick a personal gift that she knew we had our eye on. It was always a great surprise to see what she had chosen for us.

Helen will be missed by all in West Seattle and beyond.

Clark & Evalea Beck June 30, 2009 (6:51 am)

A wonderful person and a dear friend.
We miss her.
We were all members of Seattle First Christian Church, 1632 Broadway for many years. The church is also gone.