Update: Family of legendary moonshiner hoped his sentence would be reduced

"He created a perfect role and he played it to the nines," said Popcorn Sutton's daughter Sky Sutton, from her home in North Hampton, Massachusetts.

The family of iconic moonshiner Marvin 'Popcorn' Sutton is remembering what he left behind.

He made a little corner of East Tennessee famous by breaking the law.

Sutton, 62, was found dead Monday at his Parrottsville home. Officials said he committed suicide, just days before he was supposed to report to prison.

Sutton had pleaded guilty to illegally producing distilled spirits and being a felon in possession of a handgun. A judge sentenced him to serve 18 months.

Sky Sutton said his death left her stunned. "I was expecting him to go to jail and serve his time and to come back out and be the kingpin that he is. Was."

She said her mother moved her from East Tennessee to New England when she was a child. She described her relationship with her father as distant and said her image of her father is the same one made famous through YouTube videos and a documentary, where he demonstrates how to make moonshine.

"I had someone come up to me at the coffee shop the other day here in North Hampton and ask me, 'That guy on YouTube,' they said, 'That was your dad?' Yes. That's my dad."

Sky Sutton just finished writing a book about her father's life. "Daddy Moonshine: The Story of Marvin 'Popcorn' Sutton" also examines moonshine culture and the fierce independence of Appalachian people.

She dropped off a memory stick containing the text at a printer's office the morning of Popcorn Sutton's death.

"The man handed me my proof copy, and there was my father's smiling face on the cover," she said. "In the morning, when I brought the stick down, he was alive. When he handed me back my first book, my first copy of my first book, he was dead."

She said her family expected his 18-month prison sentence for moonshining to be reduced. "Normally he doesn't get punished for what he does."

She won't rewrite the last chapter of her book about Popcorn Sutton but will add an addendum.

"He did what he said he would always do, death before dishonor."

Despite his prosecution and conviction, Popcorn Sutton had a lot of fans. Many of them are offering condolences on our website and sending personal e-mails to Sky Sutton.

"I would like to thank everyone for the amazing outpouring of sympathy that has been shown to me and my family," she said.

Sky Sutton's book can be ordered by e-mail: asneeded@skysutton.com

Community marks Popcorn's passing
by Anthony Welsch

An iconic East Tennessee moonshiner has been found dead in his home, shortly before he was set to report to prison. Officials with knowledge of the investigation believe the case is suicide.

Marvin 'Popcorn' Sutton was known nationally for the illegal manufacture of corn whiskey.

The 61 year old is known across the country and world for moonshine.

Monday, the man who once said "you can't sell it if you can't advertise it" was remembered at the Checkerboard Market and Deli.

The gas station, just a mile or so down the road from his house is home to a autographed "Popcorn" Sutton clock that the legendary spirit maker hung on the wall.

They say Sutton wanted to be known for his moonshine and by most accounts, he succeeded.

"He had all kinds of stuff made with his picture on it, t-shirts, everything. He wanted people to know who he was, where you got that good liquor, it came from Popcorn," Libby Keller, who helps out at the market and knew Sutton, said.

Monday afternoon, Cocke County Sheriff's deputies and the county coroner found Sutton dead at his home. The case is on-going, but officials with knowledge of the investigation call it suicide.

Sutton was sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to making moonshine and having weapons while on probation. He was scheduled to start serving that sentence in just a few days.

"I think the only fear Popcorn had about going to prison was to die in prison, he was sick," Keller said.

He was out on bond at the time of his death, according to deputies.

"He will always be known as Tennessee's greatest moonshiner, for one thing," Keller said. "I know a lot of people would probably think that's something you wouldn't want to be remembered by, but Popcorn would."

The online tributes are starting to flood the internet as well.

An unlikely combination, Sutton was known for living a simple life doing what he knew best. Technology is paying homage: on Facebook one group is nearly 5,000 members strong urging the world to "Leave Popcorn Sutton Alone".

Some suggest Popcorn will be on the minds of many fans at this weekend's NASCAR race at Bristol.