Cecil Ray Pettis

Obituary Cecil Ray Pettis, 82, of LaPorte passed into the hands of his heavenly Father on July 19, 2014 in Fort Collins. Cecil was born June 23, 1932 in Clark County, Alabama to Arnold and Eunice Pettis. As a child the family moved to Mobile, Alabama and he attend school, graduating from Murphy High. After graduating from college at the University of Alabama, Cecil joined the Air Force and served for 21 years. While at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, OK, he married Naoma Dirkson in 1959 and together they had two children. They later divorced, but remained friends. Cecil was a pilot and flight instructor and flew 187 combat missions in over 400 flight hours in one year in Viet Nam. After retiring from the Air Force he became a caregiver for his parents and later his brother. He always had time to care for family members and never asked for anything for himself. Cecil returned to college after retirement and received a degree from the Pensacola Bible Institute in Theology. He put his talents and love of his lord to use in a radio program in Mobile, teaching Christian Religion to his listeners. A true Southern Gentleman, his verbal descriptions usually included "Cotton Picken", and vulgar language was never an option for Cecil. He loved to read and his favorite subjects were business, theology and war history. He was a quiet man with a dry sense of humor. Cecil was a member of the Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include his son, Pat Pettis of Hardeeville, South Carolina and daughter, Pam Steele of LaPorte, Colorado, brothers Robert Pettis of Fort Collins and Bob Pettis of Dothan, Alabama, and four grandchildren. A graveside service with full military honors will be held on Thursday, July 24, 2014 at Grandview Cemetery at 11:00 A.M.. Military honors will be provided by the F. E. Warren Air Force Base Honor Guard Team. Read More Services You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or by planting a memorial tree in the memory of Cecil Ray Pettis