Beckham Co. - Obit for James Jefferson Duke, 2006

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James Jefferson Duke

James Jefferson Duke, 74, of Amarillo died Friday, March 17, 2006.

Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. Monday in the West Campus of Saint Stephen
United Methodist Church with the Rev. Rusty Sieck and the Rev. Rich Jones
officiating. Burial will follow in Llano Cemetery. Arrangements are by Rector
Funeral Home Coulter Chapel, 8310 Coulter St.

Mr. Duke was born March 19, 1931, near Elk City, Okla., to James Walker and
Opal Forgey Duke. After graduation from Reydon High School in Reydon, Okla.,
he was employed with Santa Fe Railway. He then enlisted in the U.S. Navy,
serving from 1950 to 1954. After his discharge, he worked for the Amarillo
Fire Department, then at the Pantex Ordnance Plant while pursuing a social
studies degree at West Texas State University. He earned a master's degree in
education from Southwestern Oklahoma State University and enjoyed a teaching
and coaching career in Texas Panhandle public schools including Allison,
Hedley, Clarendon and Dalhart.

In 1953, James married Madge Blanscet in Wheeler. They have three children,
Kathleen Ann Rieken, John Walker Duke and Jamie Denise Duke. After his
retirement in 1984, James studied and documented family genealogy. He and
Madge also spent much of their time traveling in the United States and abroad,
visiting such places as China and the former Soviet Bloc.

James taught Sunday school for a number of years at Lakeview United Methodist
Church in Dalhart, and currently is a member of the West Campus of Saint
Stephen United Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Billy Walker "Ike" Duke;
and a sister, Oneta Duke Owen.

Survivors include his wife of Amarillo; two daughters, Kathy Rieken and
husband Shane of Amarillo and Jamie Duke of Austin; a son, John Duke and
partner Bassam Zeineddine of Austin; two grandchildren, Melissa Haskell and
husband John of Amarillo and Josh Rieken of Austin; and two great-
grandchildren, Caitlin Haskell and Christian Haskell, both of Amarillo.

The family is grateful to BSA Hospice and the staff of Plum Creek Specialty
Hospital for the loving and compassionate care they have extended to our
husband, father and grandfather.

The family suggests memorials be to the National Parkinson Foundation Inc.,
P.O. Box 116931, Atlanta, GA 30368-6931 or www.parkinson.org, The Michael J.
Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777,
New York, NY 10163-3772 or www.michaeljfox.org.

Viewing will be Monday until 1 p.m. at the funeral home.

Sign the online guest book at www.rectorfuneralhome.com.