Sunday, September 25, 2005

Old Folks At Home Addendum--Sept. 25, 2006

I am adding and addendum on Sept. 25. I just wanted you to know that I am, officially, one beat up person. I was helping Dad, Shawn, Dane and Toren put up the trusses on Dad’s shed on Saturday afternoon. Dad accidentally knocked a 2X4 and it fell with some force and smashed my right pointer finger. It is PURPLE and has been bleeding quite a bit. Dr. George said it looked as if it were broken on the tip but it will grow back. It is covered with a few layers of protective bandage. Then on Monday, I was scheduled for another procedure, called a sacroiliac joint injection. By placing numbing medicine into the joint, the amount of immediate pain relief helps confirm or deny the joint as a source of pain. Also, time release cortisone (steroid) helps to reduce any inflammation that may exist within the joint. The patient is placed on the X-ray table on their stomach so that the physician can best visualize these joints in the back using x-ray guidance. The skin on the low back is scrubbed using 2 types of sterile scrub. Next, the physician numbs a small area of skin with numbing medicine. This medicine stings for several seconds. After the numbing medicine has been given time to be effective, the physician directs a very small needle, using x-ray guidance into the joint. A small amount of contrast (dye) is injected to insure proper needle position inside the joint space. Then, a small mixture of numbing medicine (anesthetic) and anti-inflammatory (cortisone/steroid) is injected. One or several joints may be injected depending on location of the patient’s usual pain. The legs may feel weak or numb for a few hours. This is fairly uncommon, but does occasionally happen. Well, they did my left side and today, all day, I have had to have Dad help me walk, Dr. Gordon Petty George said to find a place to park and stay there. But I have had to use the bathroom from time to time. I have had a completely dead left leg. It should have feeling by morning and I am counting on it. But, because I had rheumatic fever as a child, I had to have an intravenous antibiotic. The nurse nicked the vein in my hand, left side, and so the back of my hand is swollen and bruised. Yes that is a smashed finger on the right and a swollen hand on the left—oh, joy! Besides that, I cut my thumb on the left with a knife the other day, and, at the campout, caught my pointer finger on the left in the trailer door. It has been a FUN weekend. I will no longer complain. I am done. Now I will smile and be pleasant.

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Howard Thomas Pitts, Obituary

Howard Pitts
PRICE - Howard Thomas Pitts, 86, passed away peacefully at his home in Price on Sunday morning, Sept. 18, 2005.

He was born in Myton, on Sept. 27, 1918 to Thomas Vivian and Ruth Edwards Pitts. Graduated from Carbon High School. He then moved to San Francisco, Calif., where he worked as an apprentice in the plumbing business. He returned to Price where he began his own trucking business. Married Elaine Smith Dec. 3, 1939. They had one daughter, Myrna. Elaine died Nov. 24, 1940. Served in the Pacific Islands as a Seabee in the Navy during World War II. He married Edna Pilling on March 4, 1946; she died March 14, 1997 after 50 years of marriage.

Later, his brother Kenneth joined him in forming a construction business. During this time, along with Lieb Miller, they built the two large water tanks still in use in Price. They built bridges in Utah and Idaho and completed many other construction projects. He also hauled coal for many businesses in the county.
In 1953, he and Kenneth also began another business, Pitts Brother's Wrecking and Auto. He operated this business, even after his brother's death, until he was 75 and then retired.

He was an avid fisherman, enjoyed hunting, photography and gardening. He won the monthly best-kept yard in Price award two times, once in 2004 and just this past month, 2005.

He was a hard worker, successful businessman, loving husband, father, grandfather and a well-loved neighbor and friend. He will be missed by his family and his many friends.

Survived by four daughters, Myrna (Leonard) Trauntvein, Nephi; Charlotte (Wallace) Kilfoyle, Boise, Idaho; Laurel (Thomas) Marinos, Cydney (Michael) Anderson, both of Price; two brothers and one sister, Morgan (June) Pitts, Travor City, Wis.; Robert (Maxine) Pitts, Price; and Patricia Lubbe, Las Vegas, Nev.; 14 grandchildren, Shawn (Kimberly) Trauntvein, Layton; Melanie (Howard) Bolton, Milford, Mass.; Todd (Amy) Trauntvein, Johnstown, Ohio; Eric (Amy) Trauntvein Payson; AnnMarie (Brandon) Howard, Provo; Julie (James) Jones, Nephi; Kirsten (Jared) Waite, Colorado Springs, Colo.; David (Arbree) Trauntvein, St. George; Brenda (Nathaniel) Golden, Boise, Idaho; Bridget Campbell, Boise, Idaho; Ursula (Cris) Pereira, West Jordan; Gust T. Marinos, Price; David M. Anderson, Las Vegas, Nev.; Terri Pierce, Price; 29 loving great-grandchildren and numerous loving nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by parents; one brother, Kenneth Pitts; two sisters, Vera Pearl Pitts and Bernice Narrisso.

Funeral service Thursday, Sept. 22, 11 a.m., Mitchell Funeral Home, 233 East Main St., Price. Family will be at Mitchell's Wednesday evening from 7 to 8 p.m. and Thursday one hour prior to service. Interment, Price City Cemetery.