Joe Marcus Pitts was born on December 25, 1934, at Methodist Hospital Central in Dallas, Texas, to parents Mary Kate and Marcus Pitts of Dallas. His grandparents were Joe Franklin and Mary Pitts of Red Oak, and George Walter and Johnnie Huffman of Grapevine, Texas. 

In 1941 Joe started school at James Bowie Elementary in Dallas ISD. He also attended school in Grapevine, Texas, and Gainesville, Texas, while his father Marcus worked at Camp Howze during World War II. In 1950 Joe with his parents moved full time to the Pitts homeplace in Red Oak, Texas, where the family had settled in 1884. He attended Red Oak High School, graduated Valedictorian in 1952, and met his one true love, Katherine Skipper. Joe and Katherine were married September 4, 1954. They celebrated 72 years of marriage this year. Joe attended The University of North Texas in Denton and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1955, Master’s Degree in 1957, and a Doctorate Degree in 1974.

 In 1955 Joe began his career in education teaching at W. E. Greiner in Dallas ISD. He rose through the ranks of DISD through a myriad of positions ultimately serving as Associate Superintendent-Learning in charge of day to day operations of schools. In 1982 after a major upheaval in the DISD administrative ranks, he elected to move on and became the Superintendent of Schools for Port Arthur ISD in Port Arthur, Texas, where he served for 10 years. Following retirement from Port Arthur ISD, Joe served for four years as a Board of Trustees Training Consultant for the Texas Education Agency Region IV Education Service Center of Houston. He was active in a number of professional organizations, and in 1991 he was selected as the Region V Superintendent of the Year, and the University of North Texas Professional Administrators and Supervisors Council presented him with the prestigious Eagle Award. 

Joe was beloved by and dedicated to his family. He and Katherine were parents to Donna Pitts Palmer and James Marcus PItts, grandparents of Alexander Palmer, Andrew Palmer, Katelyn Pitts and Mason Pitts, and great grandparents to Isaac Palmer, Caroline Palmer, Molly Palmer, Bozeman Palmer, Shepherd Palmer, Ella Pitts, and Avery Pitts. Family was the highest of priorities. Even with his demanding work schedule, he was always patient, loving, encouraging, and involved. He was a generous and dedicated husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, son, and son-in-law.

Joe was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church, and through the years he assumed various leadership positions. After retirement he served as a board member of the Red Oak Cemetery Association, Red Oak Ex-Students Association, Ellis Appraisal District and Ellis County Rural Rail Transportation District. In 2008 he was named a distinguished alumnus of Red Oak High School. 

He was an accomplished “do it yourselfer”, and fixed just about anything that needed fixing. He especially enjoyed restoring his collection of old Chevy pickups and Farmall tractors. Taking care of the Pitts Family Farm in Red Oak and the Buchanan Farm on Lone Elm were also major day to day activities. 

No day began without him reading the daily newspapers and The Upper Room. Family antiques were treasured and he seldom, if ever, discarded ANYTHING! We will miss him terribly.