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LOVES PARK — Dennis Neal Pitcock, 67, Loves Park, a native of Paris, died at 3 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022, at his home following a courageous journey with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease).

A visitation will be from 9:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, January 28, 2023 at Stewart and Carroll Funeral Home. Memorial Service will immediately follow at the funeral home with burial in Fairview Cemetery.

Born March 8, 1955, in Paris, he was the son Elmer Paul and Arnona Dolores "Dody" Good Pitcock.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his children, Megan Pitcock and Matthew Pitcock in 2021, as well as a beloved aunt, Joretta Throneburg Price and uncle, Richard Good.

Surviving are his sister, Paula (Gary) Marrs of Paris; a niece, Heather S. Marrs Dean of Paris; a nephew, Adam Marrs of Paris; his first cousins Mike Throneburg of Coal City, Darla Foster of Paris and Debbie Sims of Paris; and several great-nieces and nephews, including Brandon (Karen) Foster of Paris who was a caregiver and traveling companion when Mr. Pitcock became ill, and Asher Dean of Paris. Also surviving are a friend, Brett Beaman and his sons, who Mr. Pitcock considered his adopted grandchildren.

Music was Mr. Pitcock's life. A 1973 graduate of Paris High School, he was a member of the Paris High School Marching Tigers and marched in the inaugural parade with his fellow students. He was the co-recipient of the I.N. "Ike" Shaw Outstanding Senior Musician award as a senior. He was a talented vocalist and was twice selected for the Illinois Music Educators Association all-state honors choir. He was a student of the late Pat McNees in high school participating in every vocal music group including barbershop quartet, madrigal and music contest.

Following graduation, he attended Millikin University in Decatur, majoring in music/voice performance, earning his Bachelor of Music in 1978. He attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and where he earned a Master of Music in voice/opera performance in 1982. He taught at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

Mr. Pitcock moved to Edinburg, Texas, and accepted a position as a choral director. He later moved to San Antonio to serve as a choral director at James Madison High School. He later accepted a position as choral director for Brownsville Independent School District in Brownsville, Texas. He retired as the Supervisor of Choral Music Feb. 4, 2018, in charge of all secondary choir directors, accompanists and elementary music teachers.

In addition to his work with students in Texas, he was a member of the Texas Music Educators Association and in demand as a vocal clinician throughout the state and Midwest. He also directed choirs at several Texas churches as well as in Loves Park.

The family suggests memorial donations may be made to the Waisman Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison which specializes in advancing the knowledge of neurodegenerative disease such as ALS. Visit www.waisman.wisconsin.edu for further information.

For more information and online condolences please go to www.stewartandcarrollfuneralhome.com