Gritts, Eugene Willard

GRITTS, SYPES

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 7/14/2005 at 19:06:33

Funeral services for Eugene Willard Gritts, 75 of Indianola, formerly of Pleasantville, who died March 10, 2000 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, were held March 13 at Mason Funeral Home in Pleasantville. Rev. Leo Freel officiated at the services. Music was provided by organist-soloist Carol Freel.

The body will be cremated following the service and burial of cremains will be in Double Springs Cemetery-Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Honorary Casketbearers were Eugene Gritts, Jr., Phil Gritts, Kevin Gritts, Michael Gritts, Bryan Russell, Brad Kappelman, Joe White, and James Earl Watkins.

Eugene was born on January 2, 1925 in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma the son of Stephen Peter Gritts and Bessie (Sypes) Gritts.

He was raised in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. As a young man, he lived in Tahlequah, and traveled the Midwest, and had also lived in California and Alaska.

In 1964 he moved to Pleasantville. He was an inspector at Maytag for 18 years, retiring in 1987. The last four years, he has resided in Indianola. He raised his family on a farm west of Pleasantville off of Highway 92.

Eugene enjoyed raising horses, and all sports, especially football. He was a mechanically-minded person and like to work with his hands.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two granddaughters, and one grandson.

He is survived by his wife, Pamela of Pleasantville; two sons; Phillip, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Eugene, Jr. of Milo of Des Moines; five daughters; Sally Watkins of Roland, Oklahoma, Jeanette Quinnett of Des Moines, Tammy Kappelman of Swan, Betsy Russell of Indianola, and Anessa Gritts of Pleasantville; two brothers; Jay W. and Arlie of Tahlequah, Oklahoma; sister, Bonnie Arnold, Oklahoma City; 17 grandchildren; and 1 great-grandchild.

Memorials may be made to American Cancer Society.

Arrangements were made by Mason Funeral Home in Pleasantville.

Knoxville Journal Express, March 20, 2000