Ellen Louise Pittman

"SHE'S JUST BIG-BONED" ... Not Louise, her dogs. Her family will remember how every dog that came to live with Louise and John Pittman would receive meals, treats, and midnight snacks of ice cream, cottage cheese, and milk. No one that ever knew Louise could escape her kindness, graciousness and generosity. Just as her dogs would grow to resemble basketballs with legs, so too would all of her family and friends swell with all of the over abundance of love, kindness and food she could stuff into them. Just as she would say about those dogs, " She's not fat, she's just big boned", so too would she overlook every less desirable trait a person possessed and focus on their bright shining soul. She will be missed by many, and the world will be a lesser place without her.

She was born Ellen Louise Manahan, in Dexter KS to Howard L and Luva Pearle Manahan on August 1st, 1929. She grew up in that small town where her graduating class could have fit in a large sedan. Louise met John Jr. Pittman and despite his aversion to black cats, (she owned one), married him March 14th, 1948. Shortly thereafter they moved to Las Animas Colorado where she worked in the light plant and she became a mother to Stephen Ray and Andrew Van Pittman. When her husband was offered the job as City Electrician, they moved to Wray CO at the end of 1958. Having never learned to read music, she could still play the piano by ear, and played the piano very well for the First Baptist Church of Wray for many years. She belonged to the Rebbecca's Lodge, Bonne Ami Club, and participated in many community and civic functions. Her Hobbies included Crochet, Jigsaw Puzzles, Calligraphy, singing around the piano while she played on holidays, and attending her boys sporting events. She kept books for several different businesses over the years, including the Fire District, even after John retired from the Wray Volunteer Fire Department. However, the majority of the townspeople will remember her most from her many years working the front desk at the city hall and being the smiling face that most people dropped their light bill off with.

Louise was preceded in death by her sister, Nina Smith, nephew, Roger Sentel, who was like a brother, and her husband, John, and is survived by her sons, Stephen and Andrew, and nephews who were more brothers, Jerry and Dick Sentel, loving grandchildren, Mike (Jennifer) Pittman, Jason (Erin) Brueggeman, Danny (Tiffany) Pittman, Kelyn Brueggeman, Chad Pittman, Brett Pittman, and Nicole (Eric) Hockley and six great grandchildren as well. All of these family members managed to escape looking like basketballs with legs, but their souls are as large and full of her love as any of those dog's bellies ever were.

Services were held Tuesday, May 26, 2015, 2:00 p.m. at the Wray United Methodist Church in Wray, Colorado with Rev. Norman Stott officiating. A Private Family Inurnment was held in the Grandview Cemetery in Wray, Colorado.

In Lieu of flowers, the family suggests making donations to the Wray Volunteer Fire Department, an organization that embodied her desire and willingness to give of herself to aid and benefit others.
Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.