Philip Ritt

Philip A. Ritt, 54, of Bellaire, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family and loved ones on March 10, 2015 at Munson Medical Center. Phil was born on November 22, 1960 in Bellaire, the son of Danny and Maudie (Smith) Ritt. A lifelong resident of Bellaire, Phil was an accomplished finish carpenter for several years then went on to work for Lamina Bronze in Bellaire for the past 21 years. He enjoyed many outdoor activities, especially hunting, fishing, camping, gardening, watching and feeding wildlife. He loved spending time at deer camp in the Jordan Valley, goose hunting with buddies and took trips to Alaska and Saskaskchewan, and for several years played on the Men's Softball League where he was the catcher for Niepoth Plumbing. Phil was a devoted Detroit Tigers fan. In a backyard wedding, on September 14, 1991, in Bellaire, he married his woman, Mary Lou Cilke who survives. Also surviving are three daughters, Morgan Ritt of Bellaire, Anissa Bittner (Steven Elandt) of Bellaire, Courtney Bittner of Bellaire, his mother Maudie Ritt of Bellaire, a brother Todd (Jackie) Ritt of Alden, a sister Jennifer ( Frank "Pancho") Winter of Telluride, CO, 3 granddaughters AKA "his boys" Gillian Lovett, Alayna and Makenna Elandt, two uncles, Chet and Larry Smith, an aunt Gayle Hanson, several nieces as well as numerous cousins. He was preceded in death by his father Danny Ritt. Phil was known to his many friends as a "soft-spoken", even- tempered jokester and was well tested by a house full of women. A memorial gathering will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2015 at the Kearney Township Hall on Aero Park Drive in Bellaire. The gathering will start at 1:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Friends of the Cedar River, 641 Harbor View Lane, Petoskey, MI, 49770. Arrangements are being handled by the Bellaire Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes. Please sign our online guestbook at www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com. "Best friends are like a 4-leaf clover, hard to find, Lucky to Have"!