Reva Hitt Chariton

Reva Jean (Snook) Hitt was born November 4, 1926 to Lewis Wesley and Elizabeth Ellen (Barron) Snook in rural Derby, Iowa. She was the tenth of eleven children. She attended country school at High Prairie as well as Derby High School, graduating in 1943. She attended Ellsworth Junior College in Iowa Falls, then returned to the Derby area and taught school for one year at High Prairie. At age 18 she went to New York City and worked as a nanny for three months. From 1946 to 1948 she went to Grace Bible Institute, Omaha, Nebraska. On June 29th, 1947 she was united in marriage to her “high school sweetheart”, Noel “Duane” Hitt at First Baptist Church in Chariton, Iowa. In 1948 they returned to Iowa and started farming with Duane’s father. Reva and Duane were blessed with nine children and she faithfully cared for them.

Although Reva was raised in church and lived a good life and even tried to serve the Lord, in 1962 she realized that she had to make a personal commitment to Christ and it was then she received Him as her personal Savior. She always had a deep love for people and her God and readily shared her faith in Christ with everyone. She attended Smyrna Friends Church. Reva loved to garden, bake, write poetry, teach Sunday School, visit on the phone and serve people food when they stopped by for a visit. She also enjoyed a variety of animals through the years. Reva dearly loved her grandchildren and rarely missed an opportunity to send a birthday card.

She leaves to mourn her passing, nine children: David (Kathy) Hitt of Woodburn, IA, Steve (Kathy) Hitt of Weldon, IA, Jim Hitt of Woodburn, IA, Beth (Joe) Stearns of Lacona, IA, Sheryl Powders, Carol (Dan) Jelsma of Osceola, IA, Carolyn (Tim) Stroup of Leon, IA, Beverly (Norman) Skinner of Osceola, IA, Walter (Monica) Hitt of Derby, IA; twenty-eight grandchildren, LeaAnn (Larry) Kirscher, Kristi (James) Shelton, Jeff Hitt, Marty (Bobbi) Hitt, Nick (Stephanie) Hitt, Jasan (Suzanne) Hitt, Tom Hitt, Revae Hitt, Joey (Abi) Stearns, Michelle (Bob) Anderson, Rachel (Mark) Costello, Rebekah (Kelsey) Jacob, Tim (Krisdyn) Stearns, Earnie Stearns, Peter Stearns, Adam (Traci) Crabb, Jeremiah Crabb, Angela (Fred) Rothfus, Travis (Heather) Jelsma, Amy Jelsma, Merry Stroup, J.J. Stroup, Jessica Jones, Jim (Sarah) Skinner, Anne (Jerry) Yonker, John Skinner, Braden Hitt and Brooke Hitt; thirty-eight great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild. She is also survived by one brother Don (Katherine) Snook of Westport, CT; one sister-in-law, Marilyn Watts of Chariton, IA and many nieces, nephews and a multitude of friends.

Reva was preceded in death by her parents; Duane, her husband of sixty-seven years; her parents in-law, Walter and Mary Hitt; son-in-law, Ronald Ray Powders; brothers, Laurel (Mildred) Snook, Arden (Maple) Snook, Dean (Francis) Snook and Ivan (Katherine) Snook; sisters, Louise (Clay) Hickie, Letha (Ed) Jones, Faye (Leo) Thompson, Opal (Lewis) Ryan, infant sister, Marilyn Snook and brother-in-law Bob Watts. Memorials may be made to Missionary Flights International, Ft. Pierce, FL.

Services were held 1:30 p.m., Friday, January 30, 2015 at the Fielding Funeral Home located in Chariton, Iowa with Pastor Charles Coffey officiating. Visitation took place from 6-8 p.m., Thursday, January 29, 2015 at the funeral home. Interment took place in the Last Chance Cemetery following services. Bearers were Tim Stearns, Jeremiah Crabb, Jeff Hitt, Jim Skinner, Marty Hitt and Thomas Hitt. Honor bearers were J.J. Stroup and Braden Hitt. Memorials may be directed towards Missionary Flight International. On line condolences may be left at www.fieldingfuneralhomes.com.