Carla Jean Pitman, 88, of Nampa, passed away peacefully in her sleep on May 19, 2014. She was born April 8, 1926 in Nampa, Idaho, to Jim and Nan Hughes, the youngest of two daughters. She spent her childhood in Melba, Idaho, attending school at Glendale Grade School and Melba High School, where she enjoyed playing on the basketball team. After high school, Carla moved to Boise where she roomed with some girlfriends downtown while she attended business college. She reminisced fondly of that time and enjoyed getting together with that same group of ladies later in life. For many years Carla worked at Idaho First National Bank in Nampa. In 1950 she married Jack Grant and they had three children. In 1968 she married Harry Pitman and they shared 29 happy years together until his death in 1997. Carla devoted her life to taking care of her family. She cared for her sister, Shirley, who suffered from multiple sclerosis until Shirley's death in 1982. Carla also cared for her aging parents and her husband, Harry, during a six-month illness prior to his death. The highlights of her life were her little dog Tiny and her grandchildren. She spent countless hours at piano recitals, ball games, dance programs, band concerts and rodeos. Even though she was not fond of travel, she and Harry never missed an Eh-Capa trip with their granddaughters. They traveled throughout the west with the kids, watching them perform with their horse group from Salinas, California, to Quesnel, British Columbia, and everywhere in between. Carla was a wonderful cook and was known for her legendary breakfasts, buttermilk brownies and cherry cream cheese pies. Her home was always stocked with her family's favorite snacks, sweet treats and sodas. She also enjoyed canning and had a big garden. Her good home-cooking was the envy of the other campers on the Eh-Capa trips when Carla would whip together fried chicken with all the fixin's, while others dined on cold franks and beans. If she wasn't cooking, she loved to treat her family to lunch at Sizzler and in the later years at Golden Corral, particularly with her son Stephen, who enjoyed dining with her there regularly. The first time she ate there, she was hooked. She was fond of saying, "I don't know why you would need to go anywhere else. They just have *everything* here." She was particularly fond of the dessert bar as she had an insatiable sweet tooth. In her later years she enjoyed having lunch every day at the Nampa Senior Center. Lunch at "seniors" was the highlight of her day. Carla was very proud of her family and never missed an opportunity to brag on them. She lived a simple life, allowing her to always be available to her family. While she loved to shower us all with treats and gifts, we were most spoiled by her love, time and support. We couldn't have asked for a better mom and grandma and we will all miss her terribly. Besides her family and cooking, one of the other activities she loved to do was putting together jigsaw puzzles. Carla is survived by her son Stephen Grant of Nampa, ID, daughter Wendy Nau (Howard) of Melba, ID, granddaughters Nanci Carlton (Jesse), Tami Vail-Brill (Stephen), and Tina Burdick (Justin), and grandson Brydon Nau She is also survived by nine great grandchildren: Taylorann (18), Jack (15), Bailey (15), Tristan (12), Austin (11), Will (10), Cameron (8), Trevor (6) and Luke (5 months) and her very special "granddog" Gracie. Carla was preceded in death by her parents, sister, infant baby "Jack", grandsons Andy and Jamie Nau and her husband. The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Country Time Assisted Living in Star and to Legacy Hospice for the wonderful care they provided Carla in her final years. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made in her name to the Nampa Senior Center in Nampa, Idaho, or to the charity of your choice. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 28, at the Melba Cemetery on Baseline RD in Melba. Arrangements are being provided by Zeyer Funeral Chapel, Nampa. 467-7300. Visit zeyerfuneralchapel.com to express condolences.
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