Leila R. "Lee" Pitts

LEILA R. "LEE" PITTS, 100 years and 7 days, passed away April 28, 2016. She was born on April 21, 1916 in New Gretna, N.J. to Clarence Garabrand Mathis and Helen Gerew Mathis. She married Ambrose Joseph "AJ" Pitts in 1934. They lived in Burnt Hills, N.Y. before moving to Little Rock in 1947 and to Memphis in 1957. In 2003, she moved to Heber Springs and back to Little Rock in 2007 where she lived at Andover Place Retirement Living before moving to Presbyterian Village in 2015. She was a blessing to all that knew her and full of life and spunk almost to the very end. She loved to dance, play cards, and was the queen of Bingo. She was the best back scratcher ever. Everybody loved "MiMi", as she was affectionately referred to by her family. Lee was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers, Norman Mathis and Orval Mathis, and daughter, Jean McNeil. She is survived by her daughter, Barbara Newman (Ford) of Memphis; son-in-law, Joe Pete McNeil; five grandchildren: Lisa Newman of Memphis, Karen Beckwith, Jeff McNeil (Sheila), Douglas McNeil (Heather), and David McNeil (Sarah); 11 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends. The family wishes to thank the staff at both Presbyterian Village and Hospice Home Care for their assistance in caring for Lee at the end of her life. Services will be private at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church Foundation, 4823 Woodlawn, Little Rock, AR 72205 or Hospice Home Care Inpatient Center, 2200 S. Bowman Rd., Little Rock, AR 72211. Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct., (501) 224-2200. Lee's online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.