Robert James “R.J.” Pitts Sr.

Monday, October 9, 2023

Robert James “R.J.” Pitts Sr., 97, of Marked Tree departed this life Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, in Marked Tree. He was born Sept. 26, 1926, in Earle to Henry and Nora Ridding Pitts. R.J. served his country for two years in the United States Army and 29 years in the Arkansas National Guard. He was a member and a deacon of Neiswander Baptist Church, served on the Marked Tree School Board and he coached Marked Tree youth sports.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Nora Faye Pitts; his parents; one son, George Wayne Pitts; grandson, Gerald Wade Pitts; great-granddaughter, Mary Cooper Pitts; two brothers and two sisters.

R.J. is survived by one son, Robert Pitts Jr., and Melissa of Marked Tree; two daughters, Bonnie Thompson, and Dean Kirby of Marked Tree, and Helen Pitts, and Melissa of Marked Tree; daughter-in-law, Doris Pitts of Marked Tree; 12 grandchildren, Robert Pitts III, Wendy Pitts, Jereme McFarland, Wesley Pitts, Heather Lucas, Jamie McFarland, Leslie Batchelar, Nora Leigh Harbin, Stephanie Tacker, Keith Hale, Brianne Smith and Holly Dillon; 23 great-grandchildren, seven great-great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews and a host of other family and friends.

Visitation was held Sunday, Oct. 8, from 6-8 p.m. at Delancey Funeral Home in Marked Tree. Funeral service will be held Monday, Oct. 9, at 10 a.m. at Delancey Funeral Home in Marked Tree. Interment will follow at Marked Tree Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers family requests for memorials to be made to the Three Rivers Food Pantry, 802 Liberty Street, Marked Tree, AR 72365 or to the Marked Tree Public Library, 102 Locust Street, Marked Tree, AR 72365.

Arrangements are under the care of Delancey Funeral Home in Marked Tree.