Clarence Pitts

On Wednesday afternoon October 9th surrounded by his family, Clarence Hayden (Butch) Pitts, Jr. went home to be with his Lord and Savior. Butch was born in Watagua County on December 6, 1946, to Hayden and Betty Pitts. 

Growing up, Butch held many jobs such as a soda jerk, gas station attendant, oil truck driver, babysitter to his 6 younger siblings, and a school bus driver. He attended Central Piedmont Community College for 3 ½ years and left to join the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. After training in Caldwell County, NC, his first assignment was Waynesville, NC. It was here that he met the love of his life, then Sharon Plemmons, at Barberville Baptist Church on Easter Sunday 1969. They were married a few short months later on August 8, 1969. While on the Highway Patrol, he was promoted and went to the following places throughout NC: Trooper in Waynesville – 1968-1979; Line Sergeant in Monroe, NC – 1979-1981; Line Sergeant in Hendersonville, NC -1981-1985; First Sergeant in Smithfield, NC -1985-1991; First Sergeant in Waynesville, NC – 1991-1993; Lieutenant in Asheville, NC – 1993-1995; Captain in Greenville, NC – 1996 until his retirement on January 1st, 1998. From there, he and his wife moved back to Waynesville, NC where he worked for Allan Shelton and drove a tour bus for a company in Asheville. In 2004 they decided to move to Hickory, NC to be near their grandchildren. Here, Butch drove for Christian Tours for a couple of years. Butch loved the Lord with all his heart, and it showed in all that he did. He served on multiple mission trips with various churches, as well as with the Baptist Men’s group of NC. He was currently a member of Viewmont Baptist Church. Butch loved to read, watch crime shows, and laugh. He was known as a jokester among his closest friends. He enjoyed woodworking and spending time with his family.

Left to cherish his memory are, his wife of 55 years, Sharon Plemmons Pitts of Hickory, NC, his daughter Julie and son-in-law Gary Harding of Hickory, NC, his three grandchildren: Sarah Harding, Nick Harding and Emma Harding all of Hickory, NC; his sister Betsy Payne of Boone, NC; his sister Lynn Lawrence and brother-in-law JB of Blowing Rock, NC; brother-in-law Tom Collins of Blowing Rock, NC; his brother Michael “Mikey” Pitts of Wilkesboro, NC; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law Eddie and Gina Plemmons of Spring Creek, and many nieces, nephews and wonderful friends. Preceded in death were his parents, Hayden and Betty Pitts; sister, Renee Pitts; brother-in-law, David Payne; sister, Nancy Collins; and niece, Lisa Collins-Stophel.

The family will receive friends Monday, October 14th at 11:00 am at Barberville Baptist Church in Waynesville, NC. A Celebration of Life will follow at 1pm led by Reverend Andrew Rawls with Reverend Rendell Hipps. A small burial service will take place immediately following at Garrett-Hillcrest Memorial Park. 

For those planning to attend, I-40 is open and you should have no issues getting to the church.

In lieu of flowers, a donation in Butch’s honor can be made for a playground set for his special needs brother, Mikey, whom he loved dearly. Please make checks payable to Lynn Lawrence: PO Box 74; Blowing Rock, NC 28605. Under the “For” section please put: Playground Project.

The care of Mr. Pitts has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville