Mary Christine Pittman

Mary Christine (Macken) Pittman, 69, went home to be with Jesus on May 19, 2021. Born December 24, 1951 in Fort Dodge, Iowa to Viola Emma Nelson Macken, who preceded her in death. Also preceding her in death are eight of her ten siblings, Louise, Lawrence, Jack, Jim, William, Gerald, Ronald, and Sandra Macken.

Mary Pittman

Mary died at IU Health Hospice House, her loving husband of 45 years by her side. Surviving family members include her husband, Herschel Pittman of Bloomfield; three children, Terry (Amy) (Kerri) Pittman of Council Bluffs, IA, Jessica (Gerard) Pittman of Bloomington, and Todd Pittman of Bloomington; grandchildren, Jared (Sarah), Stone, Paige, Beatrice, Lucas, Olivia, Vincent, Emmanuel, Mateo; great-granddaughter, Ellie Able Pittman; two sisters, Molly Bemrich and Patricia Koester, both of Fort Dodge, IA; her beloved mother-in-law, Elizabeth (Elkins) Pittman Todd; sisters-in-law, Shirley Denis, Sue Sanford, and Jan (Tom) Pittman; several nieces and nephews; and her best friend, Sharon Pitcher.

Mary was a member of Stanford Baptist Church, where she loved her church family as her own; she relished in her Sunday School lessons, and her Secret Sister activities. Joyful and lighthearted, Mary made friends everywhere she went. From the cashier at the grocery store to her own extended family members, she genuinely cared about everyone she encountered. She encouraged you and told you she would be praying for you, and she did. Aside from being a loving and supportive friend and relative, Mary especially enjoyed drinking coffee and playing weekly dominoes with her friends and family. She loved laughter and love; her faith in God as her fortitude, she was a shining example of God’s love.

Many people are unaware of the miracle of Mary’s life. She was born a spinabifida, a birth defect which can result in paralysis, infertility, and shortened life span. Mary defied all medical predictions, blessed as a wife and mother, and gracefully lived the life God had planned for her.

Interment will be at Valhalla Memory Gardens, following the service at Stanford Baptist Church, Thursday, May 27th at 1:00pm. Friends may call 12-1 at Stanford Baptist. Visitation will be at Jenkins Funeral Home in Bloomfield, Wednesday, May 26th, from 4-8pm.