ST. TAMMANY PARISH, LA. Obituary for: CUTRER, JAMES W. "SWEET" Submitted by: Louis Lavedan. Source: E.J. Fielding Funeral Home, Covington, La. Died: Sunday, March 19, 2017 ======================================================================= Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenweb.org/volunteers/copyright.shtml ======================================================================= CUTRER, JAMES W. "SWEET" July 3, 1933 - March 19, 2017 ========== A photo is available for this file. Please go to http://usgwarchives.net/la/sttammany/obits/dateobits/2017/st1703.htm and click to view list of photos. ========== James William Cutrer, better known as “Sweet”, left us March 19, 2017. He was at home and surrounded by his family, just the way he would have wanted it. He was born July 3, 1933. He was 83 years old. Sweet was a self-made man who rose from humble beginnings in Pike County, Mississippi to spend the majority of his adult life in Covington, La. He is survived by his wife Gloria Hayman Cutrer, and children Cathy Cutrer Francis (Greg), Carey William Cutrer (Heather), and Canette Cutrer Liddy (Chris) as well as his six grandsons Cody and Drew Francis, William Strain and Jacques Cutrer, James and Luke Liddy. He has joined his first wife of 52 years, Glenda, in peace in their final resting place. Sweet's childhood was up ended when at age 9, he received the tragic news of his mother’s death. His father was so stricken by grief that Sweet was forced to find his own way up in Osyka, Ms. After bouncing around from relative to relative, he found a home with his high school coach. Every day he would milk the cows before school at the coach’s dairy farm. He graduated from Osyka High School in 1951 as a star football player with a scholarship to Southwest Junior College in Brookhaven, MS. In 1954 Glenda, his high school sweetheart, joined Sweet at the Army base in Fort Jackson, South Carolina to be married. He was a paratrooper and member of the 82nd Airborne Division and though listed for active duty in the Korean War, he did not go overseas because the war ended. Following his service, Sweet attended LSU in Baton Rouge, LA. After college, he worked several jobs in Baton Rouge and the Baker area while starting his family. In 1965, they moved their young family to Covington where he became one of the first State Farm Insurance agents in that small town. He threw himself into building a life for them in their new community by becoming a member in several clubs including Lions Club, American Legion, Rotary Club, and the Krewe of Olympia. He was also a 50 plus year member of the Freemasons, and regularly attended services at the First Baptist Church of Covington. Sweet supplemented his modest income at that time by refereeing countless basketball and football games, and when he wasn’t refereeing he was coaching youth sports. He was instrumental in establishing River Forest Academy and his three children attended school there. His love of sports, family, and work, were a constant theme throughout his life. As he became more successful as an insurance agent, he and Glenda along with Cathy and Carey and their baby Canette, built their dream house on Bomoka Road off of Hwy 25 and lived there for 30 years. The farm proved to be a place of love, hard work, and great family get togethers. Sweet would spend more than 35 years dedicated to State Farm, and along the way was a top producer and won many awards. When he retired, his was one of the largest agencies in the South. When he wasn't working, Sweet enjoyed running “the farm”, spending time with his family, working in his barn and raising his chickens and Charolais cattle. A heart transplant in 1999 gave Sweet a new lease on life. He was grateful for the excellent care that he has received from both Oschner and St. Tammany Parish Hospital systems over the years. After his retirement, he and Glenda moved to Tchefuncta Country Club and enjoyed spending time with the grandsons and keeping a beautiful yard. He looked forward to having lunch every Thursday with lifelong friends, a tradition that started many years ago. In 2005, Glenda passed away but Sweet was lucky enough to find love a second time. He and Gloria were married in 2007 and enjoyed spending time with their blended families. He is also survived by his step daughters Tammy Powell (Greg), Sherry Gottfried (Karl), Stacey Cambre (Shane) and seven step granddaughters. They were an active part of his life and loved “Papa Sweet”. The family would like to acknowledge Kathy Finch and her son Kip for all the support, love, and kindness they have shown he and Gloria these past years. We also couldn’t have gotten through his final hours without the help of Stacey Cambre and Michelle Fournet. Your guidance and support were invaluable when the time came for him to leave us. Sweet was a storyteller and often times the only thing bigger than his stories was his heart, and the kindness that he showed to his friends and family and strangers alike. His absence leaves a big hole in all of our hearts. We love and miss you. Relatives and friends are invited to the Funeral Service at E.J. Fielding Funeral Home, 2260 W. 21st Avenue, Covington, LA 70433 on Friday, March 24, 2017 at 11:00 AM with visitation from 9:00 AM until service time. Interment will be at Pinecrest Memorial Gardens Mausoleum, Covington, LA. ===================