Forest Jay Pitts, 100, formerly of Hutchinson, died May 16, 2023, at Newton Presbyterian Manor, Newton. He was born April 30, 1923, in Jetmore, to Charles and Sarah Paton (Freerksen) Pitts.
As a child, Forest had a shoe shine stand in Whitman’s Barber Shop as well as at the Sale Barn on sale days. During high school, he worked at Jones Drug Store. Forest graduated from Dodge City High School in 1941. Forest served in the United States Army from 1943-46, seeing action at the Battle of the Bulge, the Rhineland, and in central Europe. During a furlough, Forest married Bonnie Obenhaus. They had four sons. After service, the Pitts family moved to Ulysses where Forest was owner of Pitts & Burk Shoes until 1973. While in Hutchinson, Forest sold real estate and had his own real estate appraisal business. Bonnie passed away in 1961. In 1963, Forest married Esther Amerine. They had a daughter. In 1969, he married Margaret Hager who passed away in 1996. In 1997, Forest married Betty Daugherty. She survives.
Forest was interested in the Stock market, pheasant hunting, fishing, remodeling real estate, RVing, Royals baseball, the Chiefs, KU and HCC basketball and loved animals.
Forest is survived by: Betty Pitts of Frankfort, KS; daughter, Lisa Shaun Pitts (Dan) Buchanan of Newton; sons, Larry Dean (Judy) Pitts of Blue Springs, MO, Randy Craig (Kathy)Pitts of Lee’s Summit, MO, and Alan Roger (Kathy) Pitts of Newton; step-daughter, Sharon Hager Sellens of Wasilla, AK; stepchildren Pam and Pat; ten grandchildren; thirteen and one on the way great-grandchildren; and brother, Orrin Pitts of Hutchinson.
He was preceded in death by: his parents; wives Bonnie and Margaret; son Richard; brothers Lloyd, Roy, Carl, Charlie and Leo; sister Cleo; and stepson Steve.
Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Thursday May 18, 2023 at Grace Episcopal Church, 2 Hyde Park Dr, Hutchinson, with Father Larry Carver officiating. Burial will be at 1 p.m. on Friday May 19, 2023, in Ulysses Cemetery, Ulysses, KS. Military honors will be conducted by the Fort Riley Honor Guard at the graveside. Friends may sign the book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Thursday at Elliott Mortuary.
To watch the service live, please go to www.facebook.com/gracechurchhutch You do not have to register as a FaceBook user to watch.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Wounded Warrior Project or The Tunnel to Towers Foundation, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.