Sarah Jeanne Pitts

Sarah Jeanne Pitts, beloved mother and grandmother and a resident of Fort Collins Co, passed away on February 1st 2026 from a stroke. She was 80 years old. Born on December 31, 1945, in Silver City, New Mexico, to Henry and Alberta Pitts, Sarah enjoyed a wonderful childhood in Wheaton, Illinois, alongside her brother Albert and sister Emily. She graduated from Goucher College in 1967, earned a graduate degree from the University of Wyoming in 1975, and later received her Juris Doctor from Drake University Law School in 1987. As an adult, she had many adventures and lived in many interesting places from Arizona, Wyoming, Washington State, Illinois, to Minnesota. She spent many years as a resident of Des Moines, Iowa where she worked as an attorney for the Principal Financial Group. After retirement, she moved to Fort Collins, Colorado so she could spend more time with her beloved grandsons. Sarah cherished time with her family and found joy in their company. She was deeply passionate about environmental causes and dedicated herself to promoting election education and fairness. Sarah was active in many organizations, devoting countless hours to the League of Women Voters and Faith Family Hospitality. Her immediate family fondly remembers her unique knack for low-speed vehicle collisions involving family members’ cars, her strong views on the world and her annoyance when it didn’t measure up, and her love of reading. Sarah is survived by her children: William Kelley III and his wife Ungee of Loveland, Colorado, and Emily Kelley of Fort Collins, Colorado. She leaves behind three grandchildren: Alex Kelley of Littleton, Colorado, Tim Kelley of Laramie, Wyoming, and Rob Kelley of Littleton, Colorado. Her siblings, Albert Pitts and his wife Ani of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Emily Dixon and her husband James of Leesburg, Virginia, as well nieces, Rebecca Anderson (Pitts), Elizabeth Holtsclaw (Pitts), & Caroline Harpster (Dixon), and nephew Brian Dixon. Sarah was preceded in death by her youngest child, Thomas Eldridge of Des Moines, Iowa. The family will be holding a celebration of Sarah’s life on February 28th between 2 – 4 pm at Goes Funeral Care, 3665 Canal Drive, Suite E, Fort Collins, CO 80524 The family requests that in lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Nature Conservancy or the League of Women Voters Education Fund.

Sarah Jeanne Pitts

March 16, 1931 - February 1, 2026