Verla Dee Pitchford passed away at age 71 on Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012, at her residence in St. Louis County, Mo. She was born May 10, 1940, in Hamilton County to the late Havard and Eazelee Harrelson (nee Drake). She married Duane C. Pitchford on Dec. 25, 1961. She is survived by her husband, Duane C. Pitchford of St. Louis County, Mo.; a daughter, Dee Anne McDade and husband Kevin of Annison, Ala.; three sons, Gregory Pitchford and wife Donna of Chillicothe, Mo., Michael Pitchford of Dittmer, Mo., and Myron Pitchford of Troy, Mo. She is the grandmother of 11, a sister-in-law, aunt, cousin and friend. She was the sister of the late Havard Wayne Harrelson, whose wife, Bernie Harrelson of Joliet, survives. She was a homemaker. Visitation will be held today from 3 to 8 p.m. at John L. Zeigenhein and Sons South County Funeral Home, 4830 Lemay Ferry Rd., St. Louis; there will also be visitation on Friday from 9 a.m. until service time at the First Baptist Church of Arnold, Mo., and Friday from 3 to 3:30 p.m. service time at the Antioch Baptist Church in Macedonia. Interment will follow at the Antioch Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the building fund of the First Baptist Church of Arnold, Mo., St. Anthony's Hospice or the American Cancer Society are preferred. For more information or to leave condolences, visit www.