The funeral service for Gary Anthony Pitts, 54, of Athens will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home with Randy Carter and Dwight Raburn officiating. Burial will be in New Oakland Cemetery.

Visitation is from 6-9 tonight at the funeral home.

He died Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010, at Athens-Limestone Hospital.

Mr. Pitts was born Jan. 18, 1955, in Limestone County, to James Harvey Pitts and Helen Marie Clark Pitts. Mr. Pitts worked as a deputy sheriff for the Limestone County Sheriff’s Department. He was a member of the New Oakland Independent Baptist Church. He was a founder and member of Clear Creek bluegrass gospel and the president of Piney Chapel Fire and Rescue.

He was preceded in death by a stepdaughter, Lisa Renee Smith; his father, Harvey Pitts; and his grandparents, Odie Clark, Lerline Swanner Clark, R.D. and Hattie Pitts.

Survivors include his wife, Candy Pitts of Athens; son, Lance Pitts and wife Mary of Athens; mother, Marie Pitts of Athens; sister, Kristi Pitts Thompson of Athens; step-granddaughter, Breanna Smith of Ardmore; and nephew, Seth Widner of Athens.

Pallbearers will be David Austin, Jamie Vanhoozer, James Warren, Travis Sanders, Paul Laipply, Randal Townsend, Dwight Gee, Richard Carruth, Glen Dugger and Jamie Mitchell.