Rev. Elvis Elson Pitts

Rev. Elvis Elson Pitts, 90, of Amarillo, went to be with the Lord on March 9, 2015 in Amarillo. Graveside services will be at 2:00 PM Thursday, March 12, 2015 at Fairview Cemetery in Memphis, with Rev. Lynn Hancock, pastor of Briarwood Church of Pampa, officiating. Military honors are courtesy of U. S. Marine Corps, and arrangements are under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa. Rev. Pitts was born September 2, 1924 to Clifton and Ethel Pitts. He attended Swearingen and Quail schools. In 1943, Elvis was ordained as a Baptist minister. He joined the U. S. Marine Corps a year later and fought on Iwo Jima, earning a Purple Heart. After returning to Wellington, he married Ruby Dell Souder and they raised two daughters. His occupation included Baptist minister and cattle and cotton farmer. He also served as Collingsworth County commissioner and VA liaison. Elvis was a member of the Masonic Lodge and the VFW. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Winifred Pitts; a daughter, Janace Elaine Ross and an infant son, James Elton Pitts. Survivors include his devoted wife, Ruby; daughter, Donita Roch and husband Jim; son-in-law, Ronald Ross; six grandchildren, Suzanne Pingel and husband Brad of Pampa, Angela Freitag and husband Eric of Manassas, Virginia, Stacy Easley of Surprise, Arizona, Kellye Ford and husband Corey of North Pole, Alaska, Michael Barton and wife Christina of Tampa, Florida, and Amber Jeffords and husband Robert of Fairbanks, Alaska; 13 great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren. In addition, he leaves a host of longtime friends, in-laws and the caring staff of the VA Community Living Center.