Elmer Pitts, Jr., 91, was born on October 7, 1933, to parents Elmer Haden Pitts and Maggie Myers Pitts in Nacogdoches, Texas. He died Sunday, March 23, 2025, after a lengthy illness. Elmer was a builder, planner, farmer, and entrepreneur. His industrious spirit led him to buy back and develop family land, raise and educate their five children in a Godly home, establish Pine Creek Lodge in 1992, backpack parts of the Appalachian Trail in his 60s, and grow a family of 40 members (and counting!).

Elmer was a generous and confident leader, a hard worker, and a friend and mentor to many. He served many as a member of Nacogdoches Church of The Nazarene serving meals, teaching adult Sunday School and hosting the Prime Timers senior ministry. He served our country as an Army Veteran of the Korean Conflict. His 33-year career with the US Postal Service began at the Lufkin, Texas office. Later he served as Postmaster at San Augustine, Texas, and retired as the Postmaster at Henderson, Texas. Truly, his life was the picture of the “American Dream.”

He was preceded in death by his parents; loving daughter, Kathy Pitts Hiebert; brothers, Charles Pitts and Milton Pitts; sisters, Mary Haden Pitts Schultz and Laverne Pitts Yates; and son-in-law, Stanley Oakes. He is survived by his precious and faithful wife of almost 70 years, Edna Perry Pitts; daughter, Gayla King (husband, Loyd) of Nacogdoches; daughter, Deborah Oakes of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; daughter, Joy Short (husband, Steve) of Bakersfield, California; and son, Michael Pitts (wife, Crystal) of Nacogdoches. Elmer also leaves 15 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, seven grandsons-in-law, and three granddaughters-in-law. Elmer loved his large family and the title of PawPaw most of all.

The family extends gratitude to loving friends, Dr. Eric Cline, Heart to Heart Hospice and Nacogdoches Medical Center for their compassionate care.

Services will be held Saturday, April 5, 2025, at the First Church of the Nazarene, 211 SE Stallings Drive, Nacogdoches, Texas. A 10:00 AM visitation will be followed by a Celebration of Life at 11:00 AM, conducted by Pastor Joseph Ward and Pastor Jon Newlin. Interment will follow at a later date at Alazan Cemetery, in Nacogdoches, Texas. In lieu of flowers, Elmer requested that contributions be made to the Ministry Fund of Nacogdoches First Church of the Nazarene.