James Willis "Sonny" Pitts

James Willis (Sonny) Pitts, age 78, of Clifton, passed from this life into eternal life with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at Goodall-Witcher Hospital.  A service will be held on Tuesday, July 21, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, interment will follow in the Norse Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service out in front of the church under the trees. There will be limited seating in the church due to covid restrictions and facial coverings are required.

Sonny was born December 12, 1941 to the late James Wesley and Olah Lillian Boyett Pitts in Hewitt, Texas.  His family moved to Valley Mills in 1949, where they lived and worked on the family dairy farm.

He attended Hewitt and Valley Mills Schools.  On August 12, 1961, Sonny married Carol Ann Bronstad and they had two children: Lauri and Barry.

He was a devoted husband, father, and grand-father.  He was very proud of his family, especially his five grandsons.  Sonny and Carol Ann made their home in Valley Mills until 1972, at that time they built a home west of Clifton on land that has been in Carol Ann’s family for many years.  In his spare time he cared for the cattle and worked the land. He was a cowboy at heart. He loved training and breaking horses and had one all his life.

Sonny joined the Army National Guard and also served in the Army Reserves. In the mid-1960’s he owned and operated a service station in Valley Mills.  He was a truck driver for most of his life, working for Central Freight Lines for thirty-one years, retiring in 2000.  He then worked as a driver for Chemical Lime for three years.  He enjoyed fishing and hunting, especially annual deer hunting trips to New Mexico. He loved watching his son and grandsons participate in sports.  Sonny was blessed to have a strong, supportive family.  He was a hard worker and learned to be a good mechanic from his Dad.  Everyone knew that he could fix anything, and that he would give of his time unselfishly to anyone who needed something repaired.

He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant brother, and son-in-law, Charley Aars.

Sonny is survived by his wife of 59 years, Carol Ann Pitts; seven sisters, Wanda Jones, Judy Slover and husband Gary, Sandra Stewart and husband Leland, Nancy Halcomb and husband, Charles, Toni St. John, Teresa Painter and husband, Mark, Donna Burden and husband David, his brother, Paul Pitts and wife, Diann; daughter, Lauri Aars; son, Barry Pitts and wife, Jamie; his grandchildren, Andrew Aars and wife, Desiree, Eric Aars and wife, Laramie, Thomas Aars, Hunter Pitts and fiancée, Amy Ridling, and Fisher Pitts and girlfriend, Emily Davis, and many nieces and nephews that he loved dearly.  He was never able to meet his great-grandson, Kettler James Aars, who was born on his birthday, December 12, 2019. He would have been so proud.

Pallbearers are his five grandsons.

The family expresses their sincere appreciation to Clifton Care Center for the support and care of their loved one over the last four years, Goodall-Witcher Hospital, and Sunset Hospice for their care during the last weeks of his life.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be contributed to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church (152 CR 4145, Clifton, Texas 76634), The Alzheimer Association or to the donors’ choice of charitable causes.

Condolences may be made at www..cliftonfh.com