ROY MARTIN HITT

A Celebration of Life for Roy Martin Hitt, 93, will be held at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, January 15, 2022 at the Wheatland Bible Church in Wheatland, Wyoming with Pastor Paul Ostoich and Pastor Danny Fredericks officiating. A viewing will be held at the funeral home on Friday from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. and Saturday at the church starting at 9:00 A.M. Interment will be in the Wheatland Cemetery.
Roy Hitt passed away on Sunday, January 9, 2022 at the Platte County Legacy Home in Wheatland surrounded by his family.
Roy was born on Tuesday, June 12, 1928 in Phoenix, Arizona the son of Mabel Pauline (Jessen) and Roy William Hitt Sr. Due to Roy Senior’s poor health, the family returned to the Jessen family farm near Wheatland when Roy Junior was six months old.  Following the example of his mother Roy learned to “outwork” grown men on his mother and stepfather’s farm near Rock Lake Southwest of Wheatland.  This exceptional work ethic was one of the outstanding character traits he maintained his whole life.  He graduated from Wheatland High School in 1946.

Roy was working as a bookkeeper at the Chugwater Co-op in 1949 when he was introduced to a “freckled-faced” young lady by a mutual friend who proclaimed that this was the young woman he would fall in love with and marry.  He and Ferol Ann Welty were, in fact, married on May 28, 1951, and she stayed by his side as the love of his life for the next 70+ years. 

Roy served his country in the Korean war shortly after they were married but returned home just in time for the birth of his first son, Merlin Roy Hitt.  He continued to farm on his mother’s farm for several years, and they were blessed with the birth of another son, William Eugene Hitt.

In 1957, Roy and Ferol bought their own place just north of Wheatland, where they lived for the next 65 years.  Two more children were born, Robert Dale Hitt and Ann Lois Hitt Isabel.  His children had the privilege to grow up on the family farm, where they learned responsibility and developed the same work ethic as their father.  Roy took great pride in all of the children.  He especially enjoyed watching them participate in school activities. The farm was a dairy for many years and at its peak the family milked 60 Holstein cows twice each day.  Many in Wheatland will remember growing up drinking Hitt Farm milk!  He produced hay and corn, fed yearlings and later raised Charolais-cross beef cattle.  His calves topped the market at Centennial Livestock in Fort Collins for many years.  They were referred to as “the best set of calves you will see this fall” by the auctioneers.  Roy was the Crisafulli irrigation pump dealer for Wyoming and sold aluminum pipe to help sustain his farming addiction.

Over the years Roy served his community on the first Platte County Planning and Zoning Board, The Irrigation District Board and the Wheatland Coop Board.  He was a long-time member of the Wheatland Bible Church and was honored to serve in many leadership roles, officially and unofficially as the need arose.

Roy was an avid hunter.  He loved to spend time at his place in the Mountains and was blessed to have many years of amazing elk hunts with his family and friends.  These times in the mountains were perhaps the best times of his life and he is part of many people’s fondest memories.  Whether he was starting the camp fire “boy scout” style with a single match (and a can of Coleman fuel) to make the grandkids laugh, sitting on the side of the mountain glassing for elk, or playing cards sitting in the camper at night he was truly at peace and happy when he was there.

Roy’s four great loves were his Lord, his family, his farm, and elk hunting on the mountain.

Roy was preceded in death by his mother, Mabel Pauline Miller, father, Roy William Hitt Senior; sisters, Alice Stinnette and Irene Pelsue; son, Robert Dale Hitt; and his favorite hunting partners, Sam White and only a year ago, Larry Welty.

Roy is survived by his wife, Ferol Ann Hitt of Wheatland; sons, Merlin (Robin) Hitt of Wheatland, Bill (Stephanie) Hitt of Riverton, Wyoming; daughter, Ann (Michael) Isabell of Scottsbluff Nebraska; sister, Louise Marie (Larry) Clark of Arizona; 10 grandchildren; and 19 great grandchildren.

Serving as pallbearers were some of his grand and great grandchildren, Roy Hitt, William Hitt, Conner Hitt, Matthew Hitt, Samuel Isabel and Ashley “Pidge” Skager. 

A memorial to the Platte County Legacy Home, 100 Nineteenth Street, Wheatland, Wyoming 82201 would be appreciated by the family.

Gorman Funeral Homes – Platte Chapel of Wheatland are in charge of the arrangements.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.gormanfh.com.

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