Joyce McCollough

KAYSVILLE- There was a glorious reunion in heaven on Tuesday, January 24, 2017, when Joyce “Renée” Pitt McCollough was reunited with her son, Val Jay McCollough, and her parents, Melba Almira Burraston and Leonard Lund Pitt.  Renée started her earthly journey on January 23, 1930 in Payson, Utah.  She spent her childhood years in Goshen, Payson, Dividend, and Layton, Utah.  She graduated from Davis High School in 1948 and went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree from Utah State University in 1952, with a double major in Child Development and Elementary Education.  She loved teaching and taught K-2 at Verdeland Park Elementary in Layton and 1st grade in Oklahoma City, OK.  In 1953 she married JB McCollough.  They were married for 25 years and blessed with four children that were her pride and joy.  After raising her family in Virginia, she moved to Kaysville, Utah and worked at Hill AFB where she was also a member of Toastmasters.  In 1995, she retired from Hill AFB as a Trainer for the Distribution Directorate after 17 years of dedicated service.

Retirement was not for relaxing as she was a very devoted daughter and spent many years taking care of her aging parents.  She also volunteered at Samuel Morgan Elementary to help children with reading.

Renée was the best grandma and loved being involved in her grandchildren’s lives.  They loved going to Grandma’s house because they would always have so much fun laughing and playing all kinds of games.  They loved swinging in her apple tree and watching Shirley Temple movies with her while she was “just resting her eyes”.  Renée was a wonderful cook, but her grandchildren enjoyed eating her famous meal of Vienna sausages and Spaghettios.  Her excellent seamstress skills were continually put to good work sewing many dance outfits and theatrical costumes for them over the years.

Her great love for all children was obvious, as Renée became affectionately known in her neighborhood as the “Sucker Lady”.  She would sit in her front yard with a basket of dum-dum suckers to give to the children that walked by her home after school every day, rain or shine.  She gave out around 25 suckers a day for 20 years and really loved visiting with them and watching them grow up.  Through this simple service, she touched many young lives with her sweet suckers, big heart, and generous spirit.

Renée was a faithful member of the LDS church her whole life and served in various callings.  She served in the Primary over 35 years, doing what she loved most - teaching children the gospel of Jesus Christ.  She also kept very busy crocheting and sewing; making hundreds of dresses, dolls, quilts, hats, and booties for the LDS Humanitarian effort.  She lived true to her favorite hymn, “Because I Have Been Given Much, I Too Must Give.”  Her beautiful handiwork touched more lives than she will ever know.

Renée may best be remembered for her wonderful sense of humor and ability to make everyone smile.  She had an incredible quick wit and a funny joke to share to make everyone laugh.  She was a deeply caring and a very generous daughter of God, who took a genuine interest in everyone she met and was always willing to offer a listening ear.  She was considered a very dear friend by all who knew her, but no matter how much you loved her, she always loved you more. ;-)

Survived by her daughters, Lori (Alan) Peters of Sandy, UT; Loretta McCollough of Centennial, CO; and Angela (Keith) Richards of Layton, UT; 9 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are two brothers; Leonard Lorn (Norma) Pitt, and Bruce Lynn (Debra) Pitt.

Services will be held Saturday, January 28, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. in the Kaysville 12th Ward chapel, 1039 East Crestwood Road, Kaysville.  Friends may meet with family Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Kaysville Mortuary, 400 N. Main and Saturday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the church.

Interment, Kaysville City Cemetery

The family would like to express their deep gratitude to her Apple Village family and Inspiration Hospice for their great care and love.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.lindquistmortuary.com