The heavens are a little brighter these days since James Stanley Pitts joined them on June 15th, 2022.

Stan was born on October 4,1942 in Laurens, South Carolina to Reeder and Ruby Pitts. A rambunctious and curious boy, Stan grew up roaming the outdoors and working on his grandparents' farm in South Carolina. He played various sports in high school some of his favorites were basketball and tennis, was a noted Mathlete and was most proud of his Boy Scouting career stopping just short earning his Eagle Scout award.

These experiences shaped him and he would forever be an outdoorsman. Even in his later years, when Alzheimer's disease robbed him of being able work in his yard the outdoors remained on his mind. Handy with firearms, he was recruited on a shooting range after completing his undergraduate degrees in Chemistry and Mathematics at St. Andrews College, to serve his country in the Vietnam war. After he returned from his doing his duty, he attended Pharmacy school at the Medical University of South Carolina.

After graduation, he worked in various pharmacies eventually coming to work at Cleveland Memorial Hospital in Shelby, NC where he met the love of his life, Patty, and where he worked until he retired. He married Patricia Proffitt in 1999 who is in his words "the only woman in the world sweet enough to put up with me". After retirement, Stan and his beloved, Patty, enjoyed traveling both internationally and nationally but their favorite trips were taking their grandchildren to the outer banks in North Carolina. Always a man of conviction and faith, Stan loved his church family at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Shelby.

Stan is survived by his lovely wife, Patty, his children, Shannon (Dave) Settlemire, Ellen Stebbins, Kevin Monday and Kristi Monday. He also has 9 beautiful grandchildren Julia Settlemire, Laurel Settlemire, David Settlemire, Jackson Stebbins, Reese Stebbins, Nick Monday, Cameron Monday, Ethan Roberts and Chase Monday.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be offered to Deeper Healing Foundation, 1300 Hospital Drive, Suite 360, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464. Veterans receive 100% of the donations for medical care from this volunteer-run foundation.

A memorial service will be held to celebrate Stan's life on June 26th at 1 PM at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1207 W Dixon Blvd, Shelby, NC 28152. Please bring happy memories and stories to share.