Josh was born in Fountain Valley, CA, on December 6, 1978 to Steve and Lori Fitts. Josh moved to Orem at the age of 12 and graduated from Orem High School as a 5A state champion baseball pitcher. On baseball scholarship he then attended a year and a half at Utah Valley University before making the decision to attend flight school where he obtained his helicopter pilot license. Josh married the love of his life Lara Hill on June 8, 1999. They lived in the Utah County area before ultimately settling down and starting their family in Hurricane.
Josh will be greatly missed by all. He touched everyone he knew and easily made friends. He loved life and he lived it to the fullest. He was the ultimate outdoorsman, camping, fishing, skiing, wake boarding, boating, you name it he did it and he did it well. He excelled at everything he did including his career as a helicopter pilot, which ultimately took his life. His accomplishments in life are great, but nothing was as great or more important to him than his family. He leaves behind his beautiful and loving wife Lara and two adorable children, Teague and Reece, that meant the world to him. He knew what was most important in life and said that having children changed his world.
Josh is survived by his wife Lara and two children: Teague and Reece. He is also survived by his parents Steve and Lori Fitts; his brother Jason Fitts; his sisters Jenny Huff and Aubrey Fitts; and his extended family.
Tributes
Leave a tributeLara
You. Forever in our hearts
Forever Tangled Up In You
Lara
A found memory of mine about Josh is that he was such a clean freak. I remember him mopping his garage floor!
All the counter tops were clean and shining and he would look down the counter sideways to see if he missed a spot.
All the bathroom sinks were wiped down, not a water spot anywhere.
I was always sort of jealous because he cleaned so much better than me.
When entering the Holy City, I was praying for the Spirit to teach me. You could say that I was hoping for a special experience. While walking around I had a distinct thought of a good high school friend of mine, Josh Fitts. Josh died young a number of years ago in a work-related accident, leaving behind his wife and two young kids. He was a really good friend and fun guy to be around.
Other than on his birthday or the anniversary of his passing, I’m sorry to share that it’s not all the often that I think of Josh. Life seems to get in the way of where our focus should be. Yet walking on the streets of the very city where Christ fulfilled all prophecy and made possible our salvation, I had a clear memory of Josh Fitts come to mind. I’m thankful for the tender mercy that came in the form of this memory of a good friend.
The experience came in an unexpected, beautiful form of the smell of a fragrant tree. It used to crack me up how Josh would take time to smell things. He would often take a whiff and comment about the smell of things. What a cool, comforting experience it was for me to be taken back in time to a moment when Josh made us laugh with a comment about the smell of a tree. I would have never guessed that northern Utah and Jerusalem had the same kind of trees!
I do miss my friend. May God bless his family with comfort!
Six years today, but it's still so fresh, and painful. I miss your smile and your goofy laugh. I know you are never very far away.
Lara is strong, but you already know that. Teague reminds me of a little Josh, and Reece is a spunky little girl like her mom. They are both fun, adventurous kiddos. Love you and miss you.
Till we meet again,
Debbie
Deb 6 October 2018
Forever Tangled Up In You
Lara
Jeff and Sarah
Until we meet again
Forever Tangled up in You
Today I hope to pull strength in your memory to live long, hard, love deeply, and be adventurous. I think about you all the time. I see you in so many things. Your in my heart forever. I want to hug you so badly. My mind is swirling.... I freaking love your wife..... your kids are bright stars. So much love for you is beaming up to heaven. Hugs, for Jeff & Me
Always on my mind forever in my heart.
I'll miss you forever and love you for always,
Sarah
FTUIY
LARA
Forever tangled up in you
Love you more
Xo
Lara
Sarah
Love you more
Lara
Love you more babe
Forever Tangled up in You
Lara
Jeff and I miss you so much. We still laugh about all your funny memories we made with you. Thanks for still making us laugh. Thanks for the incredible impact you have made in our lives.
Peace be with you and all who knows you.
"Mcdona's forever"!
Sarah
Love your little sis!
Love you more
Lara
Love you more
Forever Tangled Up In You
Lara
Forever tangled up in you
Lara
Love you more
Until we meet again
Forever Tangled Up In You
Lara
Love you more
Lara
Love you more
Lara
You are my forever , loved you then, love you still, always have, always will.
Forever Tangled Up In You
Lara
Leave a Tribute
Lara
Josh the Teacher
So I was cleaning up my computer and found some old videos (see videos posted on Facebook) of Fitts mastering his craft with a long-line, which he was awesome at, and always willing to help teach others, including myself. I remember the first time he let me practice long-line he jumped out on the mesa above the old airport and said " ok bring me the hook and don't screw this up". After I laid the hook down next to him he signaled me to lift and go around again. As I started to lift, I glanced down and noticed josh was still hanging on to the hook, LOL. So I proceeded to give him a ride and I wish I had this video instead to share it was halarious. I remember him letting go at somewhere between 10 or 15 ft AGL and thinking this guy is extreme! Sure miss all the good times we shared and know where ever you are you're still having fun. RIP Brother
Snow and Skis = Strength
You always pushed me to be my best. I know I wouldn't be who I am without you kicking me in the butt all the time. Back when we were dating you , let's just say lacked in the manners department... When we would go skiing you would pretty much leave me in the dust! We would arrive to a double black diamond and without hesitation you would go... I would have the fear of getting lost so I would grit my teeth and follow! There were times I would be scaling cliffs trying to get down and you would be at the bottom saying " sorry babe.. Didn't realize it would be this hard"... But once I did make it by your side your were always proud and cheering me on. Once we got to go to Sundance on a total powder day.. And after the frustration of locking our keys in the car with our gear inside and you thought the " pow pow" day (as you called it )was ruined... We were on the lift and realized they had just opened the upper bowl and we would be one of the first to arrive. You were giddy like a kid on Christmas morning. We got off and you went for Wildflower .. An easy run for you but with knee high powder you knew I would be challenged. You " bombed" that hill and left me to fend for myself.. Once again not paying attention to the whole run in itself but gritting my teeth and going over the edge. One turn after the other I tackled the hill with no falls or " yard sales " . I could hear you cheering as I got closer and when I was by your side you were ecstatic with my performance! Look at your perfect "s" patterns!! That was awesome!!!! You were very proud and I was worn out. We got to the lift and I colapsed. I told you two do a couple runs so I could recover .
You made me stronger. As I am faced with this challenge without you... The rocky terrains and being left in the dust... I know your sorry for this path I'm on and didn't want it to be so hard.... But Im Putting my head down and gritting my teeth... I know you are cheering me on... And when I stand by your side.. You will be ecstatic and be so proud.
Can't wait to be in your arms. Forever Tangled Up in You... Love you more
Lara
Summer 2013 memories
Can I just tell you how thankful I am that I made Jeff take a week off that summer. So many times he would tell me "no, I have to work" but for some reason he just didn't say it this time. I think it's helped with our pain this past year. Knowing we had so much time to be with you, and just to truly be ourselves. Let the world go for a little bit and enjoy our moment.
I should call that summer the summer of water. Because when I think about meeting up with you and Lara we ended up around the water. Water fights, water park, and the Springville water pad.
1st of all the water pad: it was my 1st day in town and I was so excited to see you and Lara. You brought Aubry and your mom with you. It was so much fun. I see you hanging out on the lawn with your big smile. Your chatting away making everyone happy. I'm glad I made the time. I'm glad you did too.
Provo Pool: seriously could you and Jeff be any bigger kids going down those slides? You boys left me and Lara to chill while we set back and watched you run to the tip to do the slide races down again and again. But then you let us join in and Lara and I went down together and then we all took the kids. It was so fun. You scared the crap out of Teague. And it was so funny to see that. You and Jeff jumping off the rock jump was such a great time. You 2 are so funny. Love you both so much.
My favorite memory of the summer was the water fight up at Lara's mom's house. You were relentless! It started out with just me and Lara in the house coloring my hair. And we hear Cal getting pounded by your water balloons. After a while I had to step in and save my son! You and Jeff on a team, and Cal and me on one. What started out as a water balloon fight turned into stilling each other's water hoses and turning off each other's water supply. I like to think Cal grew-up a little more that day. You didn't go easy on him. And because of that he wanted his sweet revenge on you. As Cal went for his one last water balloon shoved down the neck of your now stretched out tshirt neck of your shirt I saw your face of shock and finally giving up and giving to him to let him have his sweet revenge. Plus you didn't want too put up too much of a fight at the end because you knew if you moved the tshirt was getting stretched out a lot more. And also since the legendary water fight outside had moved inside to the kitchen. I Don't think we could have made a mess in Debbie's kitchen that we both didn't want to clean up. Way to hold still.
Oh I loved that summer. I loved that you took extra time so say good bye to us as we pulled away to head back to California. You were always good at saying your goodbye's. Can't wait to see what your Hello will be like. But we know it will be good. Everything you do was just amazing. We love you. And I miss you, even though I know your here still watching out for us, can wait to see you again!
Xoxox
Sarah