Betty Jean Pitts

Betty Jean (Garrett) Pitts, 89, Nevada, MO went home to meet the Lord on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at Nathan Richard Health Care in Nevada.   Betty was born January 31, 1935, the daughter of Robert Glenn “Blue” Garrett and L. Inez Folkner Garrett.

Betty grew up in the Montevallo area.  She attended rural schools and Olive Branch Baptist Church.  She graduated from El Dorado Springs High School in 1953.  After high school she worked as an operator for the telephone company in Nevada.  She met the love of her life, Alfred Leon “Throck” Pitts and they married on October 28, 1953. 

Betty loved God, her husband, her family and her friends.  Betty was full of life.  She always had a project of some sort to work on.  Shuffling 5 kids to events, volunteering to be home room mother for multiple kids at the same time, growing and canning vegetables, cooking meals for any “strays” that showed up at the dinner table, crocheting a wedding dress because a son asked her to for his future wife, sewing quilts, crocheting baby blankets and afghans for everyone she knew, sewing suits and formal wear, baking specialty cakes, and being a 4-H leader for years.  She started the 4-H Dairy Goat project in Vernon County in the 1970s.  

In 1983, Betty started a whole new career in life.  She and Throck had dreamed and planned to go on the road together when the kids were raised.  So, she became an over the road team drive with Throck:  16 years, 24/7 together they spent driving all over the United States.  It gave them the opportunity to see the country and to also visit some old friends in California and family in Florida.  When they decided to quit taking the coast to coast runs and Betty decided to stay home, she still didn’t “retire”.  Betty volunteered at the church to help answer the phone and send notes of encouragement to older members or anyone suffering a hardship in their life.

Betty was also a member of community clubs over the years and a long-time member of the First Baptist Church.  Betty was loving and nurturing to every living being, exception of snakes.

Betty is survived by her children:  Terry and Judy Pitts of Springfield, MO, Nick and Sheryl Pitts of Kirksville, MO, Alfrenita Pitts of Walker, MO, and Marjeana and Mike Smith of Milo, MO;  daughter-in-law Nancy Thomas Pitts Wallace of Moundville, MO; grandchildren: Thomas Pitts, Travis Pitts, Tabitha and Brian Matthews, Suzanne and Kyle Riddle, Garrett and Stephanie Pitts and Benjamin Pitts; five great-grandchildren:  Katherine and Christopher Pitts, Elaina and Eden Pitts and Leon Matthews; and two sisters, Charlotte Bonjour Chase of Tecumseh, KS and Glenice Page of Plant City, FL.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband of 50 plus years, Alfred “Throck” Pitts; son, Tracy Pitts; infant son, Dustin Pitts; her parents; her sister, Doris Keener and brother, Marvin Garrett.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 27, 2024 at Ferry Funeral Home, with Pastors Dr. Kevin Daugherty and Hubert Fox officiating.    Interment will follow in Milo Cemetery.    The family will receive friends at 10:00a.m. prior to the service.    The family requests memorials to the Nevada R-5 Foundation for the Pitts Family Memorial Scholarship in care of Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.

You may view obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com