Frank Pitchford

Published 12:00 am Saturday, January 12, 2008

NATCHEZ – Services for Frank Martin Pitchford, 74, of Natchez, who died Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008, at his residence, will be at 11 a.m. today at St. Mary Basilica with the Rev. David O’Connor officiating.

Burial will follow at Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time today at the church.

Email newsletter signup

Mr. Pitchford was born April 26, 1933, in Natchez, the son of John J. Sr. and Inez Hunter Pitchford. Mr. Pitchford graduated from St. Joseph Catholic High School in 1951. He entered the U.S. Navy and served for two years. He was the owner and operator of Southside Texaco from 1970 until December 1998. Mr. Pitchford was a member of St. Mary Basilica and was the oldest resident of Southwood Lodge Estates. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved to fish and enjoyed rabbit hunting with his beagles.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Frank Martin Pitchford Jr.; brothers, Col. Charles Pitchford and Frederick Pitchford; and sister, Margaret “Peggy” Pitchford.

Survivors include his companion of 36 years, Ollie “Merle” Brown; daughters, Lyn Latimer of Natchez and Betsy Bradley and husband, Tony “Stump”, both of Fayette; sons, Ralph “Butch” Pitchford and wife, Patricia, both of Baton Rouge; sisters, Mary Catherine Pitchford Loomis and husband, Gene, both of Lafayette, La., Judy Pitchford Bartley and husband, Kirk, and Inez Pitchford Marlow and husband, Orvis, all of Natchez; brothers, Col. John J. “Jack” Pitchford and Richard Pitchford, both of Natchez, Tom Pitchford and wife, Joan, Jim Pitchford and wife, Leigh, all of Baton Rouge, and Gerald Pitchford and wife, Yara, both Santa Fe, N.M.; grandchildren, Ami Scott, Jessica Bradley, Martin Latimer and Nathan Latimer; five great-grandchildren; and a large extended loving family.

Pallbearers will be Bob Pollard, Allen Richard, Thomas Latimer, Chris Brown, Tony Bradley, David Brown, David Atkins and Terry Brown.

Honorary pallbearers will be Curtis Hamilton, James “Frog” Taylor, Brad Fondren, Danny O’Beirne, Carl Timmons and Joey Scott.

Memorials may be sent to Hospice Ministries, Cathedral School or the Concordia Animal Welfare Shelter.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.lairdfh.com.