Darrell Ray Pitts
Darrell “Ray” Pitts, 78, a longtime resident of Texas City, Texas, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on October 10th, 2016 after a brief illness. Ray was born November 7, 1937 to Charley and Lynia Pitts in LaRue, Texas. He graduated from Ball High School in Galveston, Texas.
Ray worked for American National Insurance Company more than 50 years as a department manager in the Actuarial Division before retiring in 2006.
Ray was a kind and compassionate man, a loving father and a devoted husband to his wife, Mary, for 52 years. He loved and was loved by many friends throughout his life. For many years, Ray enjoyed fishing, golfing and coaching Little League Baseball and later became a business manager for American Legion Baseball. He was a dedicated fan of the Dallas Cowboys and NASCAR. After retirement, Ray and Mary enjoyed several memorable trips, including Vatican City, Rome.
Ray was an active member of St. Mary of The Miraculous Medal Catholic Church where he served as a money counter, an usher at Saturday Vigil Mass and Treasurer of The Men’s Club.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his grandson, Kyle Matthew Pitts. Survivors include his loving wife, Mary, daughters Kristi Mullin, Traci Strosser (Jeff) and son Darrell Ray Pitts, Jr. (Maria), and brother, Bobby Dale Pitts. Grandchildren include Shaun Dorsey (Summer), Cassidy Strosser, Cody Platt, Lesley Smith and Lance Smith. Great Grandchildren include Cayden Smith, Wade Dorsey, Danica Dorsey and Delaney Dorsey.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 13, at Crowder Funeral Home, in Dickinson beginning at 5:00 p.m. – 8 p.m. and a prayer service by Deacon Joe Hensley at 7:00 p.m. A celebration of Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary of the Miraculous Medal Church in Texas City on Friday, October 14, 2016. Interment will follow at Hayes Grace Memorial Park in Hitchcock. Pallbearers will be Joe DeSanto, Jose Boix, Julius Schoppe, Joe Cambiano, Philip Osburn, and Juan Valdes. Honorary Pallbearers will be all members of the Men’s Club.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that monetary remembrances be made to St. Mary’s Catholic
Church or Our Lady of Fatima School.
To my coworkers and friends Darrel and Maria, The Lords Plan is Perfect. I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.
Condolences to the Pitts family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to your whole family. Psalms 147:3 says God, “heals the broken hearted, and binds up their wounds.” May God bring you comfort and peace.
I worked with Ray at American National Insurance back in the ’70’s. He took a kid fresh out of college and made me feel comfortable, needed and wanted. That met the world to me back then. I still have favorable memories of sitting in his office discussing more fishing, Little League and life’s lessons than we ever did business. And what a contagious laugh he had. I guess that is what life is all about anyway though; leaving memories of yourself such that you’ve never really left but you live on in the minds of close friends and family. He will surely be missed. God Bless!!
When I think back about all the people I have worked with and how they have influence myself and the people around me, Ray would be at the top of the list. As a new kid at American National fresh out of college, he was a great mentor for dealing with the business world. In addition, he was just a fun, great guy to be around. I am sorry I will not be able to be at any of the services, but my thoughts and prayers go out to the family.