01/04/2014
Mary Lou (Byers) Pitt, Courtney, 84, of Knoxville died Jan. 4, 2014, at Knoxville Area Community Hospital from complications of a stroke.
Mary was born Feb. 16, 1929, in Bussey and was one of 12 children of Clarence and Odessa Byers. She attended school in Knoxville where she lived her entire life.
She married Raymond Pitt on Sept. 18, 1945. They lived for many years on a small family farm northwest of Knoxville.
The family moved to Knoxville in 1976 and Mary proudly worked for the Veterans Administration hospital in food service until 1983.
She was preceded in death by her first husband Raymond Pitt on June 6, 1983.
For many years she enjoyed socializing and playing bingo at several locations in Knoxville. She married William "Bill" Courtney on April 7, 1989 in Knoxville. They shared many happy years together and enjoyed dancing to the music of bands which included her nephew Keith Byers, a drummer; and her son David, a piano player. Bill preceded her in death on July 18, 2003.
In recent years Mary enjoyed companionship and hilarious antics of her Chihuahuas Sugar and Tiny. She always looked forward to spending time with her children and extended summer visits from her sister Dell from Texas. She, Dell, and their sister Yvonne loved to travel to the Rathbun Country Music Theater near Centerville for an evening of entertainment.
She was proud of all her children and their families and was loved by her many friends and acquaintances.
She held a special place in her heart for her brother Jerry Byers, a country music singer, guitar player and pianist who preceded her in death in 1963. She had a lifelong love of music and could play the guitar, the piano, and sing beautiful harmony.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Odessa Byers; her siblings May, Dell, Bud, Johnny, Joyce, Ardith, Janice, Jerry, Betty Jean, and Yvonne; and by a granddaughter Chris Cooper.
She is survived by her children Gloria (Delmar) Hoch of Melcher-Dallas, Iowa; Barb Schuld of Pella, Iowa; Dwayne (Jane) Pitt of Monroe; Rita (Tim) Raney of Knoxville; David Pitt of Colfax; Sandy (Buddy) Cupples of Newton, and Jeri (Alan) Scott of Chariton; her grandchildren Richard Cooper, Jamie Conner-Morgan, Shelby Chiri, Ben Pitt, Jordan Pitt, Jake Raney, Aaron Trotter, Josh Montgomery; and her brother Hughey Byers of Brookhaven, Miss.
A celebration of life gathering will be held at the Church of the Nazarene Fellowship Hall in Knoxville, Iowa on Saturday, January 11, 2014 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. The hall is directly behind the church on Highway 14.
Burial will be at a later date at Greenwood Cemetery.