Ira Russell Brittle

Ira "P-Nut" Brittle passed away peacefully on Friday, May 23rd, 2025, in Scroggins, Texas. He was 88.

P-Nut was born on February 26, 1937, in Baxter Springs, Kansas to George Douglas and Lillie (Murray) Brittle. He was raised in Oklahoma and often spoke fondly about his time there, where he grew up with his brothers, Frank, Danny, and Jim, and his sister, Vivian. Though life back then wasn't easy, his favorite stories to share were of his childhood home and his adventures in Devil's Hollow. As he matured, he worked as a laborer on various highway jobs all over Oklahoma and Kansas, even supporting the development of the Will Rogers Turnpike. In 1959, during a job in rural Kansas, he met a young woman who was supporting construction crews and fell in love. Later that year, Ruth Leonard and P-Nut were married and began the next chapter of their lives together.

Shortly after marriage, P-Nut got a job in The Dalles, Oregon at an aluminum plant. After their first child, Tammie, was born, Ruth followed him to Oregon and it was there that they gave birth to their first son, Lance, in 1961. They initially lived in Rowena and later moved to The Dalles where their son, Tony, was born in 1973. P-Nut and Ruth enjoyed camping on the beach with their family and they were members of the Columbia Gorge Climbers, where they raced Jeeps. P-Nut greatly enjoyed hunting and fishing with his sons and passed his passion for fishing on to his grandchildren. P-Nut and Ruth were active members at Emanuel First Baptist Church in The Dalles.

P-Nut worked at the aluminum plant until 2000, when the plant closed. As part of the Trade Readjustment Act, he attended college at age 63 and over a six-year period earned three associate degrees in management, Diesel Mechanics, and Marine Mechanics. P-Nut was proud of his degrees and put his education to use starting a small business repairing the boats of friends and close acquaintances.

When Ruth suffered a stroke in 2003, P-Nut dedicated his time to acting as a primary caregiver for her, managing her meals and medication. He cared for her until she passed away on May 2, 2019.

In October of 2024, P-Nut moved from The Dalles to live next to Lance in Scroggins, Texas. His final months were spent on the lake watching the birds and deer, taking trips in golf carts, and doing what he loved most – fishing.

P-Nut is preceded in death by his wife Ruth Brittle, daughter Tammie Brittle, and sister Vivian. He is survived by his three brothers, Frank Brittle, Danny Brittle, and Jim Brittle as well as by his son Lance Brittle and wife Peggy and his three grandchildren Maggie, Amie and Seth; and by his son Tony Brittle and wife Sarah