CECIL EARL HITTSON

1927 - 2011

Cecil Earl Hittson, 83, passed away peacefully in his sleep at home March 5, 2011. Born in Rule, Arkansas on August 4, 1927 to May Anderson Hittson and Clifford T. Hittson, he was the eldest in a family of three children that included sisters Ethel Miller and Winnie Hittson.

He grew up in a farming environment that included a lot of playing in the dirt and "noodling" for catfish throughout his childhood. The family moved to Lyman, Washington in 1935, and Cecil was proud to be a graduate of the small Lyman Elementary School; he then went on to graduate in the nearby Sedro-Woolley High School in 1946, where he was active in class activities and football. During his time in that area he enjoyed outdoor hunting and fishing activities. He stayed in contact with many fellow classmates and attended annual class reunions for both Lyman and Sedro-Woolley schools thru 2010.

After high school graduation, Cecil enlisted in the Army and served two years in Japan. After serving in the US Army, he began work at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington. He worked there for 33 years, starting in the Electrical Shop, and eventually retiring as Supervisor of Nuclear Inspection in 1982. He was active in softball and basketball programs at PSNS.

Cecil married Betty Osborne, also of Sedro-Woolley on April 6, 1951. They were married for 59 years, and had two daughters, Patricia and Pamela. Cecil was preceded in death by his mother and father, May Anderson Hittson and Clifford T. Hittson, sister Winnie Hittson and daughter Patricia M. Rothenberg. He is survived by his wife, Betty Jean Hittson of Belfair, daughter Pamela Ramstad of Belfair, granddaughter Katie Rothenberg of Bellingham, grandson Jeffrey Rothenberg of Ballard, grandson Michael Barnett of Belfair, grandson Scott (Kate) Thompson of New Jersey, granddaughter Jamie Durham of Port Orchard, son-in-law Steve Rothenberg of St. George, Utah, son-in-law Tim Ramstad of Belfair, as well as three nieces Laura, Stephanie, and Corrine and nephew Scott, all of the Sedro-Woolley area.

As a husband, father, and friend, Cecil was known to always be there for anyone who needed him. In addition to family gatherings, Cecil also enjoyed many, many friendships through golfing, snowbirding and RV'ing, sharing humor, and just using his big brown eyes and smile to brighten anyone's day. He had reportedly fished every river in Washington, had enjoyed traveling to numerous states and foreign countries, and especially enjoyed listening to others' stories as well as sharing his own stories of life and travel. In his later years, he enjoyed photography, his computer, numerous new electronic gadgets, and mowing with his riding mower---sometimes including not only his lawn, but others' and neighborhood street-edge and cul-de-sac areas.

A celebration of life open-house will be held Saturday, March 19, 2011 at the Eagles Club in Belfair, 80 Northeast Alder Creek Lane, Belfair, Wa 98528 from 2:00-5:00 p.m. Cecil will be laid to rest, next to his daughter Patti, at Twin Firs Cemetery in Belfair at a later date in a family ceremony.