James "Gene" Tutt, 82, of Burlington, died Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, at the Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center in West Burlington.
Born Dec. 26, 1941, in McLeod, Miss., he was the son of Edward and Ella May McCoy Tutt. He married Toni Wallace and they were later divorced.
Gene migrated to St. Louis with his father and siblings in the early 1950s for a better life and more opportunity. He started working in the construction industry. Doing what he loved would eventually lead him to Burlington. There he worked for Leonard and then Bryan Shipley of Shipley Construction.
Gene loved being around his grandchildren and enjoyed traveling to their activities when he was able. He also enjoyed socializing with his friends at his bar, Southside.Swapping stories of the past with a round of laughs was always on the menu. Gene will be lovingly remembered for always being helpful to all those he could and for being an overall good man.
Survivors include two sons, Jason Tutt of Des Moines, and Jamie Tutt of Monmouth; six grandchildren, Jasmin, Jayme, Andrew, Jamiya, Jaylen and Darius; five great-grandchildren, four brothers, John Henry (Mae Earl) Clanton of Macon, Miss., Johnnie Tutt of Burlington, Lovell (Aura) Henderson of St. Louis, Mo., Willie Tutt of St. Louis, Mo.; five sisters, Carrie Rhoades, Rosie "Bell" Bellamy, Hattie Duncan, Venna "Bink" Tutt-Porter, and Callie Tutt all of St. Louis, Mo.; and many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Ella "Celia" Tutt, stepmother, Daseree "Muh" Tutt, brothers, Eddie Tutt and James "Jank" Henderson, nephews Mark "Sket" Tutt Sr., Johnnie Tutt, Jr and Terry Tutt.
Cremation has been entrusted to the care of Prugh Crematory.
The memorial service for Mr. Tutt will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, at Prugh Funeral Service, 3940 Division Street with Deacon Tim Robinson and Pastor Marcus Timmons officiating. A repast will be held following the service at Union Baptist Church, 220 S. Central Ave., Burlington.
A memorial has been established.