Carla Louise Pitts

Carla Louise Landini was born on December 10th, 1957 to Joyce and Carlo Landini. She was the second of three children and grew up on a dairy farm, which shaped so much of who Carla was. As with any farm life, her days were filled with hard work, laughter, and love. She was always there to help with the daily chores and to share in the life of the farm. She brought warmth, grounding, and joy into even the most ordinary tasks. She attended schools in Fruita, Colorado and graduated in 1976.

In 1977 she married Steve Pitts and they settled down on a farm near Fruita. She soon became the mother of her three children; Mario, Stepheni and Amber. Carla loved being a wife and mother, and although her family always came first, she worked for a time at the Lower Valley Hospital, Fruita Salebarn, and at Mauch Photography as a retouch artist. She also worked throughout the years on the family farm, managing the farm finances and helping out wherever needed.

As her kids grew up, Carla could always be seen cheering them on at football or soccer, frequently making the 4 hour trip to Denver for soccer games. She also served as a sewing leader for the 4-H club and sewed beautiful dresses for her daughters, Steph and Amber. Her smile and loving ways made a lasting impact on many of her kids’ friends as well. Being a mom was one of her greatest joys, but she was no pushover. She had high expectations for her kids and was extremely proud of them.

After their kids graduated in 2003, Carla and Steve moved to a farm near Lyman, Nebraska. Although they didn’t know anyone, it wasn’t long before people there knew about “that sweet lady from Colorado and her ornery husband.” She quickly fit in to the new neighborhood, making friends with many. She often threw bridal and baby showers, hosted barbeques, and holiday cookie exchanges where she always made her Italian pizzelles. She became well-known in the area for making home cooked meals and bringing them to the beet field during harvest. She fed the whole crew, plus any extras, with a fabulous meal and a warm smile. She continued to make meals for the harvest crews for several years until her health forced her to stop.

In 2006, Carla was delighted to become a grandma when Sophia was born. Sophia was followed by Taylor, Mason, Remington, Maddox, Stevie, Rory and Harper. Carla adored being a grandma and loved spending time playing games, baking cookies, digging in the garden, planting flowers and taking rides in the golf cart. The only thing bigger than her pride in her grandchildren was her love for them.

As her health failed, Carla wasn’t able to do as much, but her love for everyone just got bigger. Even though she rarely felt good physically, she was always more concerned about other people than herself. Her strength was found in her faith and she and her dear friend Christy often went to church together. Her determination to come back from some serious health problems was an inspiration to everyone who knew her, and although she was physically frail, in many ways she was the strongest person in the room. She was truly a person about whom we can say, “My life is better because I knew her.” Her devotion to her family and community, her quiet strength, and her selfless heart touched everyone who knew her. The love and care she poured into others will remain her lasting legacy, and the memories we share with her will forever be treasures in our hearts. Steve and Carla were married for 47 years and shared so much life together. They often engaged in playful banter and had many laughs throughout the years. Steve and Carla supported one another through the trials of life and their devotion and true love is something we all strive for. Steve always felt he was so lucky to have her as his wife. She always supported him in his wild outings and business ventures.

Carla is survived by her husband, Steve; son Mario Pitts (Kristy); daughter Stepheni Pitts Welchlin (Derek Welchlin); daughter Amber Pitts (James Sharman); grandchildren Sophia, Mason, & Maddox Pitts; Taylor & Remington Eubanks, Harper Welchlin; Stevie and Rory Sharman; siblings Lori Ann (Denny), Mariann, Cheryl (Dave), KennyPete (Donna), and many other friends and family who loved her dearly. Carla was preceded in death by her parents Carlo & Joyce Landini, brother Tommy Landini and sister-in-law Kristie Shirley.

The memorial service for Carla will be September 13th at 11:00am at WestWay Christian Church in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Carla Pits Memorial Fund at Platte Valley Bank, Morrill, Nebraska for Carla’s grandkids to further their education. Fond memories and condolences may be left at www.dugankramer.com. Dugan Kramer Funeral Chapel is assisting the family with services.