John Paul Pitts

​John Paul Pitts, 82 years old, passed to Heaven on January 1, 2023 at Cox South with his loving family by his side.
John Paul was born on September 24, 1940 to Paul D. Pitts and Modena (Wilson) Pitts. He had 2 brothers, David and Jim Pitts. He grew up in Ava, MO on the family farm.
 
He married Rachel (Fry) Pitts of Almartha, MO in 1960. He often called her his girlfriend of 62 years. Together they had 5 daughters who adored their Daddy: Paula (Kent) Williamson, Pam (Alex) Nole, Kim Pitts, Kristi (Brian) Vinson, and Julie Eiler. John Paul and Rachel had 1 grand-daughter and several grandsons and great-grand children.

​For a time, the family lived in Springfield, MO where John Paul made a career of blue print reading and bridge building. He was a member of Carpenters Local Union 978. He was a Christian and attended Parkcrest Baptist church with his family.
 
After he retired, he, his wife, and their daughters moved back to Ava where he raised beef cattle. He enjoyed farm life…putting up hay, working on tractors, tending to his beef cattle, and collecting antique tractors, especially 2-cylinder John Deeres. John Paul was known for his kindness, unmatched work ethic, wittiness, grit, strong American values, and his love for his family. With age, he developed severe health problems which forced him to slow down. He enjoyed his coffee buddies who he would meet each morning at ¨the office¨ as he would say. Several of those were his good and lifelong friends, Tom Vinson, Jack Ritter, Larry Chance, Rolla Swofford, and others.
 
John Paul was preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law Prentis Fry, son-in-law Keith Leming, and others.
 
He is survived by his aforementioned family and many other family members and friends. Though our hearts ache for him, he will be forever in our hearts and countless memories until we meet again.
 
A graveside service for John Paul will be Thursday, January 5, 2023 at 2 PM at Turkey Creek Cemetery with Larry Vinson officiating.
 
John Paul will lie in state at the Ava Family Funeral Home LLC, 401 N Jefferson, Ava MO from 11:00 until 4:30 on Wednesday, January 4, 2023.