Anita Marie Pitts

Anita Marie Pitts, of Powell Place, Payson, Arizona, entered heaven gates on January 16, 2018, at the age of 88. Anita was born on November 28, 1929 in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada. Anita’s parents were Jean Baptiste Cloutier and Rose Marie St. Jean born in Quebec, Canada. She had one sister, Rita Bowers who died in Ontario, Canada in 2017. She is survived by four sisters, Theresa, Yvonne, Antoinette, and Murielle and one brother, Frank. She is survived by her daughter, Deborah Derocher, grandchildren, Craig and John Derocher, great grandchildren, Zoe, Braelynn, Collin, and Jaxon Derocher. She will be greatly missed and loved forever by her family.

Anita came to the United States in February, 1948 and married Craig David Schooler in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Craig was also a Canadian citizen from Leask, Saskatchewan. Both Anita and Craig became United States citizens in 1953. Craig and Anita had three children Donald, David, and Deborah. Anita was widowed in 1969. She married John H. Pitts on November 3, 1978 in Las Vegas, Nevada. John died in 1997 and Anita never remarried.

Anita graduated from Grand Canyon College in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science degree. She became an elementary school teacher shortly thereafter and taught 2nd and 3rd grade. A few years after marrying John Pitts, she retired from teaching.

Anita had a great life with John Pitts. She learned to ride a bike and to play golf. She and John lived in Sun City, AZ and played golf frequently. They were involved with the Shriner’s organization and they also travelled to Canada, Europe, and the interior of the United States. She enjoyed travelling, golf, and was an avid reader.

After John’s death, Anita became involved with her Lutheran Church. She was a Stephen Minister. Anita had a strong group of friends in Sun City and was the “designated” driver, not because her friends drank but because she was so good at driving. Even during her marriage to John, she did most of the driving – John liked to have her drive for both of them, even though he called her “Barney Oldfield” because he said she had a heavy foot.

In 2014, Anita had heart surgery to repair a valve and then moved to Payson, AZ to be near her daughter. She lived in Powell Place Assisted Living, in Payson, Arizona until her death. She was very well cared for and loved by the staff there. She also had many dear friends at Powell Place, some who will miss her very much and some she is surely gabbing with in heaven.