George Pittman

George Douglas “Doug” Pittman, age 79, passed away March 26, 2016 from ARDS.  Joyce, his granddaughter Laurel Luck and grandson Bryan Luck were by his side.
Doug was born November 13, 1936 in Ann Arbor, Michigan to Ralph and Delia Pittman.
He went to the Philmont Boy Scout Camp in New Mexico.  Doug also played trumpet and went to the prestigious Interlochen Summer Music Camp. As a young forester he participated in Paul Bunyan Days competing in the log roll, pole climbing, wood chopping, and double saw log cutting.   Doug earned a Bachelors Degree and a Master’s degree in Forestry from University of Montana, where he met and married May Jo Soucie of Missoula, Montana on January 10, 1959.  After graduation he worked for the State of Idaho as a forester and after twenty years he left as a State Superintendent.  While with the forestry department Doug fought forest fires on the front line. He worked as a spotter from the air looking for forest fires.  Later he supervised active operations of all forest fires in the State of Idaho.  His three oldest children loved to go to St. Joe Baldy Lookoout Station near St. Marys, Idaho and look for forest fires.  We lived on a small farm in Idaho Falls, Idaho and he taught his children to respect animals and how to grow, preserve, and dehydrate food to eat.  He moved to Evanston in 1976 and worked at the saw mill scaling and surveying operations until the mill was closed.  After moving to Evanston and having two more children, they had the same lessons with rabbits.  Many times we could tell you the name of who we were having for dinner.   He then went to Amoco and BP where worked as Land manager and later as plant maintenance.  He retired from BP in 1999.
Doug was very purposeful in his children’s lives.  He made a point to make sure they had many experiences in life ranging from educational opportunities, music, sports involvement, hunting, fishing, camping, and traveling.  Doug was always challenging his children to learn whatever they could. He had lots of “dadisms”; No Yabuts or What’s a Yabut: Two wrongs don’t make a right; What did Thumper’s daddy say?; and If (insert name) jumped off a cliff would you follow?; just to make little boys/girls ask questions; and Are you writing a book?...... leave that chapter out.
Doug was an active outdoorsman, hunter, and fisherman.  He was camp cook on many occasions with lifelong friends.  He loved an adventure and seeing things he had never seen before.  He and Joyce took several fishing trips to Alaska fishing for salmon and halibut.  They spent many weeks throughout the years traveling to visit their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and special friends.
He took on many hobbies throughout his years.  Some including Boy Scouts, youth sports, making his own stained glass creations, and reading the newspaper daily (in whatever city he was in). He would read the classified ads wherever he visited and make suggestions of items we could buy or couldn’t live without.  He enjoyed woodworking and recently made a beautiful oak bookcase and apple burl table top.  He loved to putter, tinker and repurpose so many useful things.
Doug married Joyce Titmus on September 20, 2003 in Evanston, Wyoming.  They enjoyed fishing, camping, shopping, went on several cruises, a recent trip to Peru and spending time with family.
He is survived by his loving wife Joyce, 5 children:  Greg (Tonda) Pittman, Denise (Lynn) Nannemann,  Paul (Wendy) Pittman, Kimberly (Micheal) Shields and Christopher (Kristin) Pittman, 27 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren and 1 sister Betty Torrey.  He also has 4 step children Darlene (Joey) Douglas, Georgia (Mark) Breuning, Bonnie Dalebout and Scott (Amy) Barker.
He was preceded in death by his parents and 1st wife May Jo.
A viewing will take place at Crandall Funeral Home Tuesday, March 29, 2016 from 6 pm to 8 pm.   Funeral service will be held at Crandall Funeral Home Wednesday, March 30th, 2016 with viewing one hour prior to the service.  Cremation will take place with burial done at a later date.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Doug’s memory to the local police and fire departments, local animal shelter or local charity of your choice.  His community was very important to him.