A World War II veteran will get his wish to have his casket painted to resemble a pack of Juicy Fruit when he dies. Suttie Economy, 94, is known throughout the Roanoke, Virginia, community for handing out Juicy Fruit gum to people he meets, a friend says.
A World War II veteran's wish to have his casket painted to resemble a pack of Juicy Fruit when he dies has been granted. Suttie Economy, 94, told his friend Sammy Oakey, President of Oakey's Funeral Service, his last request is to have his casket painted like the iconic, yellow Wrigley's Juicy Fruit pack of gum when he passes.
A unique ask -- Oakey told Economy he would do the best he could to honor the veteran's wish when he called.A family friend for at least 45 years, Oakey told CNN that Economy is a unique and patriotic individual known famously throughout the Roanoke, Virginia, community for handing out Juicy Fruit gum to everyone he meets.Economy was admitted to the Salem Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Virginia three weeks ago due to a heart condition. A week later, the veteran was moved to the Virginia Veterans Care Clinic, where he currently resides with his health improving.Read More"Suttie would come in here for visitation or just come in to visit and he would always bring a bunch of packs of Juicy Fruit chewing gum and put it out for the employees to enjoy," said Oakey. "He didn't just do that here. He did it at restaurant and doctor's offices wherever he went."During World War II, Wrigley supported US troops by taking Wrigley's Spearmint, Doublemint and Juicy Fruit off the civilian market and dedicating the entire output of these brands to the US Armed Forces, according to Mars. Economy became fond of Juicy Fruit during the war and had been giving it away to his community ever since he came home, according to his brother, John Economy."It served as a symbol for his mission to talk to people about the World War II memorial and to honor the deceased veterans that died for our freedom," his brother said. Oakey's first request to use Wrigley's Juicy Fruit logo and trademark on the casket was denied by the Mars Wrigley company. With the help of social media, the veteran's wish to use the branding gained widespread traction. Oakey received a contact to the company's president from a community member and within a few days he received a call from the vice president granting permission to use the logo. The company's president also reached out a week later saying he would not only be proud to have the Juicy Fruit logo on casket, but that he would also send some products to the Economy family, Oakey said. Economy was excited to hear the good news. The funeral service thanked the community for their support with a post on their Facebook page. Last Friday, 250 packs of Juicy Fruit gum were delivered to the funeral home for the family, who has since picked it up.For now, the family is not certain when the casket will be painted, but plans to find an artist soon, Economy's brother said.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Analysis: How Biden is pressing a two-front war against TrumpCNN News, delivered. Select from our newsletters below and enter your email to subscribe.
Read more »
U.S. economy could boom in 2021 like it did in the aftermath of World War II, says Morgan Housel'There's so much pessimism of what's going on, justified pessimism, that I think we underestimate how good 2021 could be going forward,' former Wall Street Journal columnist Morgan Housel told CNBC.
Read more »
‘Love After Love’ Review: Ann Hui’s Pretty, Empty Melodrama Set in Pre-War Hong KongOnce more with rather less feeling: after “Love in a Fallen City” and “Eighteen Springs,” acclaimed Hong Kong director Ann Hui returns to the work of celebrated 20th century…
Read more »
War on Women Report: Trump Attacks Pelosi and Advocates for Voter FraudThe War on Women is in full force under the Trump administration. We refuse to go back, and we refuse to let the administration quietly dismantle the progress we’ve made. We are watching. This week: Ted Cruz leads a group of 20 Republicans to ban the abortion pill; the U.S. will not partake in a collective effort by the World Health Organization to develop a coronavirus vaccine; Trump advocates for his supporters to attempt voter fraud; AG Barr is completely out of touch with the reality of racism; Trump blocked from trying to withhold federal family planning funds; Trump tries
Read more »
Seth Meyers Bashes Trump’s “Brazen And Infuriating” Anti-War Claims In Return To 30 RockSeth Meyers is back in the studio and in usual Late Night fashion, the late-night host blasted President Donald Trump’s latest news-worthy moments. The first “A Closer Look” segme…
Read more »
Lawmakers push to award posthumous Medal of Honor to Black World War II medicArmy medic Cpl. Waverly Woodson Jr. is credited with saving many lives on D-Day, but a bipartisan group of lawmakers says he was not considered for the Medal of Honor because he was Black. They're working with Woodson's widow to change that.
Read more »