[br][br]Gary Earl Pitts passed peacefully at his home in Boise, Idaho on June 24, 2014 at the age of 83 after a courageous battle with cancer. Gary was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on August 17, 1930 to Florence and Homer Pitts. He was the older of two brothers. Gary was raised in Salt Lake City and graduated from East High School where he was very active with the school choir. After graduating from High School, Gary attended the University of Utah with an emphasis in music. In 1950, he joined the Navy, spending time in San Diego and then in Korea during the Korean War. He served as a Navy Medical and Dental Corpsman attached to the Marines until 1954 when he was honorably discharged.
Following his discharge, Gary returned to Salt Lake City to work in the dental field and host his own television variety show called the Record Room entertaining with his beautiful voice in the style of Frank Sinatra and Mel Tormé. Highlights of his singing career included opening for Sammy Davis. Jr. and performing with the Stan Kenton Big Band.
Gary and his Bride, Cathie, met in Salt Lake City in 1966 and married in 1967. They lived in Kirkland, Washington for a short time and then found their home of 34 years in Spokane, Washington where Gary ran his own company until he retired in 1997. Gary and Cathie later enjoyed traveling and splitting their time between Yuma, Arizona and Boise, Idaho. Gary continued to entertain with his beautiful voice through 2009.
Gary was a patient and kind husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather who never lost his witty sense of humor. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, art, music and fixing anything and everything around the house. He will be dearly missed by his loved ones.
He is survived by his wife, Cathie, of 46 years; four children, Steven Pitts (Kari), Gavin Pitts (Kari), Kevin Burkhead (Renata), and Stefani Pitts Nelson (Rolf); brother, Kim; 10 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.
A Celebration of his life will be held on July 12 at 1:00pm. Friends and family please call 832-671-3099 for details.
The family would like to thank St. Luke's Hospice Foundation for their outstanding care of Gary. Please consider honoring Gary by making a contribution to St. Luke's Hospice: online at www.stlukesonline.org/boise/ways_to_give/ or by mail to St. Luke's Hospice, 190 E. Bannock, Boise, ID 83712 (please note Gary Pitts in the memo line). Please call 832-671-3099 for other tributes or acknowledgements.