Byrleta E. Pittam Obituary (1920 - 2016)

Byrleta Eileen Hoehne Pittam age95, died March 5, 2016. Born on a farm Southeast of Adams April 19, 1920, daughter of George and Adeline (Aden) Hoehne. She attended Hooker Country School prior to moving to Adams in 1929, and lived there her entire life. As a child she attended the Lutheran Church, she joined the Presbyterian Church in 1939 and since 1996 has attended the Methodist Church. She noted that "all the corn rows end up in the same grain bin and we all end up in the same Heaven". She graduated from Adams High School in 1937 and at age 17 started teaching country school. At that time she had taken "normal training" classes in high school in order to become a teacher. Later she attended summer school at University of NE to obtain her teachers certificate. She not only had to educate the children but also carry water, keep the fire built in the stove, clean the outhouse and keep the animals out of the school. She cried that first day as the kindergartners didn't learn how read. All this for $36 per month that first year. She taught country school at Harnley in 1937, Mt Pleasant 1938-1939 and Independence 1939-1942. Later she was substitute teacher in the Adams Elementary School. In 2002 Byrleta was honored at the Governors Mansion for her years as a Country School teacher. July 20, 1941 Byrleta married Eldon B. Pittam Long time Adams Post Master he died January 3, 1985. Camping in Nebraska with a group called the "Night Owls" brought their friends together. The grandsons have many stories about the little Shasta camper, fishing and the trailer at a private lake near Burchard. Active in the Presbyterian Church as the Sunday School Superintendent she directed many Christmas programs including a 1957 live slide production with animals. Often giving "object talks, finger plays, and flannelgraph" stories. She was also known for her "storytelling" programs she presented in the Adams community. She was a member of the Presbyterian Womens Organization, Deconess, Ladies Aid, Extension Club, and Sunshine Club. Entertaining neighborhood children with programs in her home was a love of hers. For years, even at 95, she enjoyed playing cards and dominos with "the girls" at Gold Crest. She wrote the history of the Hooker Cemetery in 1996. Then she completed the history of the Adams Highland Cemetery in 1997. She was the first recipient of the Adams Community Service Award in 1997. Byrleta worked as a receptionist for the Griffiths Hovendick Chapel in Adams from the mid 1970's until 2007. She wrote the local news for the Voice Newspaper from 1987 until 1999. Known as the Adams Historian, and often heard saying "So it goes", she authored the article on the founding of Adams for "Nebraska Our Towns" in 1992. Keeper of numerous scrapbooks and notebooks of information, if there was a questions about Adams "Ask Byrleta". She was an avid letter writer, which is now becoming a lost art. Still writing at age 95 many have received her witty conversations on paper. Her grandsons have shoe boxes full of her letters and words of wisdom articles. An old proverb attests "Each time an elder dies, a library closes." Preceded in death by her husband Eldon and son-in-law Les Franklin Sr. Survived by son, Dean Pittam of Lincoln, Daughter, Brenda Pittam Franklin , Grandsons Les Franklin II ,wife Emily, great grand daughter, Savannah, Trevor Franklin , wife Nichole, great grands AlvaBella and Drake all of Lincoln. Numerous nieces and nephews and countless others whose lives she has touched. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Wednesday, March 9, 2016 at the Adams Methodist Church with Reverend Rob Clark officiating. Interment will be at the Highland Cemetery. The body will lie in state Tuesday from 1-9:00 PM at the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Adams with the family greeting friends from 6-9:00, and at the church one hour preceding the service. A family prayer service will be held at 10:45 AM Wednesday at the church. Memorial gifts to the Adams Highland Cemetery or the Adams Rescue Squad with the funeral home in charge. View Byrleta's online guest book and view her video tribute when completed at www.ghchapel.com. These services have been entrusted to the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Adams.