Melinda Sue Sutherland of Unionville, age 57, passed away on Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at her home, following a courageous battle with cancer. Mindy was born September 1, 1957 in Caro, the daughter of Richard & Esther (Satchell) Colling, and was a lifelong area resident. She graduated from USA High School with the class of 1975 and went on to study at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois, and finally Central Michigan University where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance. She was united in marriage with Dirk James Sutherland at the Colling Nazarene Church on August 9, 1980, and together they were blessed with four daughters. Mindy taught private piano lessons in her home for over thirty-five years and inspired the love of music for hundreds of students in this area, as well as playing many benefit concerts for various churches and organizations around the state. She attended the Colling Nazarene Church and recently began attending Salem United Methodist Church in Pigeon. Mindy’s legacy lives on in her music and she played classical and inspirational Christian music with passion. In 2012, she produced her own album, “Peace in the Battle” and was a member of the Bay Area Music Teachers Association and the Michigan Music Teachers Association. Her spare time was filled with sewing, flower gardening, birdwatching, kayaking and camping, especially around Lake Superior. Mindy’s life was full of love, and revolved around her family, especially her children and grandchildren. Left to cherish her memory are her husband of thirty-four years, Dirk James Sutherland; four daughters and their spouses, Amber & Bobby Hodge of DeWitt, Ashley & Scott Travis of Holland, Brooke & Jordan Seitz of Encampment, Wyoming, Kacie & Brandon Putman of Pigeon; twelve grandchildren, Regan, Sadie and Quinn Hodge, Amelia, Evelyn and Louisa Travis, Emma, Bella, Mya, Nova and Gia Putman, and Baby Boy Seitz due to arrive in July; her parents, Richard & Esther Colling of Unionville; siblings and their spouses, Rick & Sally Colling of Lynchburg, Virginia, Doug & Kristy Colling of Unionville, Patti & Michael Morgan of Swartz Creek, Rebecca & David Lazarus of Ann Arbor, Kent & Beth Colling of Charlotte, North Carolina; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Mindy was preceded in death by one sister, Deborah Colling. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 20, 2015 at the Caro First Baptist Church with Rev. Ronald Wigand and Rev. David Stewart officiating. Private burial services will occur at Columbia Township Cemetery in Unionville. The family will be present to receive friends at the Ransford Collon Funeral Home in Caro on Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and at the church on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 11:00 a.m. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorial contributions to the Sutherland Family to create a music development fund to be used at local churches and organizations. The family was assisted with these arrangements by the Ransford Collon Funeral Home of Caro. Friends may share memories, thoughts and prayers online at www.RansfordCollon.com.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18