Jon Tutor Obit

Jonathan "Jon" Gray Tutor, 47, of Memphis, TN, passed away on August 8, 2023, in Memphis after a long illness. Born October 24, 1975, Jon was a lifelong resident of Memphis with short stints living in North Mississippi and Galloway, TN.

Jon was a quiet and stoic individual, not one to readily express his emotions. Whether it was physical or emotional pain, he kept it to himself. However, when it came to those he cared about, Jon was always there to lend a helping hand. He would drop everything to ensure the well-being of his loved ones. Despite the passing of time and life's interruptions, Jon's friendships remained steadfast. The moment you reconnected with him, it was as if no time had passed at all.

You just couldn't hang out with Jon without inevitably sharing memories—most of which centered on his childhood, compiled of ill-informed adventures, close calls, and even near-death experiences. He was almost always just on verge of cracking a smile and was always eager to share a laughing fit, accented by his trademark giggle, which never disappeared even has he got older.

Jon's greatest achievement and passion in life was his son, Drake, often going into great detail with family and friends about what Drake was up to and how proud he was of the man he was becoming.

The other great loves of Jon's life were smoking ribs, shoulder, and chicken and the University of Memphis Tigers. They were distant seconds but remained a constant in his life and were where he seemed the happiest. He cooked competitively in regional BBQ competitions and was a cooking team member of the Moody Queues, taking third place at the Memphis in May International BBQ Championships for his patented slow smoked pork shoulder. He was always willing to talk methods and theories on what he can do next to enhance his ribs' flavors.

He was a skilled mechanic, starting at a young age on lawnmowers and go-carts, working his way up to cars, becoming a certified mechanic, working for multiple Memphis-area dealerships before accepting a job with DeSoto County Schools as a fleet shop foreman. He worked with DeSoto County until illness forced him to resign his position.

He will be missed by everyone that knew him, without exception. Jon is survived by his son, Drake Tutor, as well as his mother, Brenda Woods, father, Johnny Tutor, sisters, Melinda Tutor, Tiffany Woods, and brother, Christopher Tutor. He also leaves behind three nieces and two nephews.

A celebration of life will occur with details to be determined. Memorial donations can be made to Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Germantown - https://cpcg.org