Avis de décès de John-William Pitts - Nécrologie - MesAieux.com

John William Pitts, 64, of Belle Glade, a 40-year employee and vice president of the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida in Belle Glade, passed away Friday after a valiant effort battling cancer. He died at St. Mary's Hospital in West Palm Beach. Mr. Pitts was born June 9, 1940, in Port St. Joe, Florida. He joined the U.S. Navy after graduating from high school and was home-based in Oregon from 1958-1962. After being discharged from the service, he joined Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida in 1963 as a receiving and issuing clerk. Soon thereafter, his organizational and negotiating skills were recognized and he was promoted to assistant purchasing agent and was later named Vice President Materials Management in 2000. He retired from the company June 1, said co-op spokeswoman Barbara Miedema. Mr. Pitts married Jacqueline (Jackie) Croft on May 20, 1966. They have two children John Eric, of Belle Glade married to Amy Carter and Juanita Alisa of Orlando married to Bill Osborne. He is survived by one grandchild, Landry Leigh Pitts. Although Mr. Pitts will be well remembered for his more than 40 years of outstanding service to the cooperative, it is his can do spirit and ability to overcome life-changing obstacles and dry wit that sets him apart, Miedema said. As an avid outdoorsman and hunter, he suffered a tragic hunting accident in 1985 and was a paraplegic. After numerous surgeries, physical therapy and life style changes he was able to continue to work and serve his community fulltime. Cooperative President George H. Wedgworth said, "I have always admired John for his dedication and persistence in handling both professional and personal matters. He was not only a colleague, but I considered him a close personal friend. He will be missed." Former Belle Glade Mayor Steve Weeks characterized Mr. Pitts as the "go-to" guy. "If you wanted to get something done, John was the guy to go to. I served for many years on the board of Glades Day School with John and he was just invaluable. He really enjoyed his years of service there because he felt so strongly about supporting the community, the students, the families and education. He continued his involvement with the school even after his kids were grown and gone." In addition to sitting on the Board of Glades Day School, Mr. Pitts was past chairman of the Black Gold Jubilee, past-president of the Belle Glade Rotary Club and was a Paul Harris Fellow. He sat on the boards of Belle Glade Chamber of Commerce, Glades Management Board of Glades General Hospital, Children's Home Society and the Palm Beach County Health Care District's West County Advisory Board. He was also a member of the Belle Glade Alliance Church. Arrangements are being handled by Glades Funeral Chapel in Belle Glade. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Palm Beach County Hospice or the American Cancer Society.