Dick Franklin Sutherland was born on August 28th, 1931 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Lucille (Crouch) and Buford Franklin Sutherland. He passed away at his home in Elk City, Oklahoma on Friday, September 20th, 2024 at the age of 93 years and 23 days.

Dick grew up in Oklahoma City where he attended Classen High School, graduating in 1949. After graduation, he was employed in the title and abstract industry and later became involved in oil and gas lease acquisition with Gungoll and Gungoll, Union Oil, and Shell Oil. This work continued during his college time at Tulsa University until his enlistment in the US Army in 1957. In the Army, Dick was sent to West Germany and was assigned as a secretary to the Adjutant General in Stuttgart. After discharge in 1959, he returned to the land man business. He met and later married Jennifer (Partridge) on September 30, 1961 in Oklahoma City. They made their home there where Dick worked as a land man for Coates Field Service and worked his way up to Vice President. He left Coates and formed his own business, Sutherland Land and Right of Way Consultants, in 1969 and moved to Guthrie, Oklahoma. In 1986, at age 55, he sold the company and retired, enjoying his new time with Jennifer, traveling in their RV, working in the yard, and visiting family and friends. They moved to Elk City in 2005 and became members of the St. Matthew Catholic Church where Dick spent countless hours on projects for and with the church, including development of the St. Matthew Cemetery.

Dick is survived by his wife of 63 years; one son and daughter-in-law; two grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.