John Stitt Obituary

John B. Stitt

Rogers, AR - John B. Stitt passed to our Heavenly Father at age 73 at his home in Rogers, Ark., on June 14, 2021. He is fondly remembered by adoring family, devoted friends, appreciative neighbors and admiring former co-workers as a loving, caring, and demonstrative person who cherished staying in touch with people the world over.

Born July 19, 1947, in Memphis to Bill Stitt and Marjorie B. Stitt, John is survived by his wife Ruth Stitt and his seven-year-old daughter Gracie Stitt of Rogers, Ark.; daughters Georgia Stitt in Nyack, N.Y. (Jason Robert Brown) and Emily Stitt Jones in Cumming, Ga. (Gregory Jones); granddaughters Molly and Susannah Brown and grandsons Owen and Blake Jones; his siblings Jody Stitt Palmer, Orlo Stitt, Jean Stitt Otto, and Peggy Stitt Bulla; and former wife Susan Gladden Atkins of Dahlonega, Ga.

Appreciated for his creativity, contagious exuberance, and enthusiasm, John had the skills to fix most anything and make it look "like new." He enjoyed woodworking and gardening but his passion and lifelong hobby was photography. He created an incredible collection of masterpieces featuring family and friends and unique images captured as he traveled around the world.

Educated at Bartlett High School, Memphis University School, Iowa State University (B.S. in Forestry, 1969) and University of North Carolina (MBA, 1972), John worked for Buckman Laboratories but in 1978 with brother Orlo founded Stitt Energy Systems in Rogers, designing and constructing energy-efficient passive solar homes. John later worked for Lydall and brought his family to the Memphis area to work for Kimberly Clark, commuting from their home in Covington, Tenn. John authored a book in 1990, "Managing for Excellence," and in 1994 returned to Buckman leading development of products and operating technologies applicable in the global manufacture of tissue products. John traveled to 71 countries, consulting and teaching the innovative technology he helped develop, before retiring in 2017 from Buckman. He continued to consult at "Bulab" until the pandemic.

A memorial service for family and close friends will be held July 17 at his house in Rogers. Gifts in John's memory may be sent to the fund set up to provide his daughter Gracie's education at www.gofundme.com/f/memorial-for-john-stitt.

John would have been thrilled for friends to take a look at his photography and leave comments at www.jbstittphotography.com.