June 18, 1945 - October 25, 2018
Jon Pitts, 73, entered into rest peacefully on Wednesday, October 24, 2018 at East Adams Rural Healthcare in Ritzville, WA. He and his wife Diane were longtime residents of Steptoe, WA. Jon was born in 1945 to Bob and Esther Pitts of Dusty, WA and was the oldest of five children. He graduated from LaCrosse High School and went on to Spokane Community College where he received a degree in diesel mechanics and heavy equipment repair. Jon was a highly accomplished mechanic who had addressed every kind of mechanical issue possible over the course of 40 years. He worked predominantly throughout the Spokane and Palouse area including jobs in Alaskan logging camps and the installation of the Alaska Pipeline. Jon met the love of his life, Diane, in Chatteroy, WA and the two were married in 1977. After raising their family in Othello, the two returned to the Palouse in 1987 where they settled in Steptoe for the remainder of their lives together. Our dad was a good man. He was a humble and quiet man who wholly trusted in his savior Jesus Christ and his own strong hands to carry his family through the hard times. He was a beacon of light for his wife and a safe harbor for his children. Jon loved his church. He enjoyed visiting with friends and family. He loved to talk about hunting and fishing, pie and coffee, and old forgotten logging roads. Jon was preceded in death by his wife, Diane, who passed away in 2016. Jon was also preceded by his parents, Bob and Esther Pitts of Dusty, WA; a brother Jeff of Priest River, ID; and a sister Nancy who departed in her youth. Jon is survived by a stepson Rick Malby and his wife Neva of Ritzville, WA; a stepdaughter Michelle Lortz and her husband Don of Airway Heights, WA; a brother Steve Pitts and his wife Pam of Minneapolis, MN; a brother Kim Pitts and his wife Cindy of Dusty, WA; one nephew; four nieces; and four grandsons. Our family would like to extend our sincerest thanks to the following people: Thank you to his brother Kim, who for so many years served double duty for our dad’s best friend. No matter the bumps along life’s road, he always held you in highest regard and a special place of love in his heart. Thanks for all those great years. Thank you to Patty Reynolds and to all of their friends and neighbors for supporting our dad and watching over him in his years of decline. Thanks Patty, you’re a peach and the family was really blessed by your diligent care. Another Thank you to Pastor Steve Szasz and his congregation at the Country Bible Church in Dusty for the nice cards and for keeping Jon in their prayers. Finally a special thank you to all the medical staff, nurses and aides at Whitman Health and Rehab, and the East Adams Rural Healthcare who loved and cared for dad like their own family through his final battle with Alzheimer’s. Thank you. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 3, 2018 at 11:00 am in Colfax at the First Baptist Church. Pastor Steve Szasz will officiate. Refreshments will be provided afterward. Please join our family in sharing your memories as we say goodbye to Jon. Jon’s final resting place will be at Fairmount Memorial Park in Spokane, with a private inurnment.
