Obit of Duke, James Jefferson - Roger Mills County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Wanda Purcell 05 Nov 2006 Return to Roger Mills County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/rogermills/rogermills.html ========================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ========================================================================== ::Llano Cemetery--?? Surnames Duke, Forgey, Blanscet, Ricken, Owen, Zeineddine, Haskell, Originally posted at: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/5YB.2ACE/6752 James Jefferson Duke, 74, Amarillo died Friday, March 17, 2006. Memorial services were 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 Chapter, 8310 Coulter St. Mr. Duke was born March 19, 1931, near Elk City, Oklahoma, to James Walker and Opal Forgey Duke. After graduation from Reydon High School in Reydon, Oklahoma, 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 Ordance 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 Ricken, 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 Chhina 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 wife of Amarillo, two daughters, Kathy Ricken aned husband Shane of Amarillo and Jamie Duke and partner Bassam Zeineddine of Austin; two grandchildren, Malissa Haskell and husband John of Amarillo and Josh Ricken of Austin; and two great grandschildren, Caitlin Haskell and Christian Haskell, both of Amarillo. The family is grateful to BSA Hospice and the staff olf 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 Parkingson Foundation Inc., P.O. Box 116931, Atlanta, GA 33068-6931 or www.PARKINSON.ORG or, The Michael J. Fox Foundation of Parkinsons' Researcxh, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163-3772 or www.MICHAELJFORX.ORG. Viewing was held Monday until 1 p.m. at the funeral home. Cheyenne Star, Cheyenne, OK 23-Mar-2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Roger Mills Archives http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/rogermills/rogermills.html