Marilyn Smith's Obituary
On September 23, 1927 in New Brighton, PA, Marilyn Jean Shaffer was
born. She was raised to be a generous, compassionate, Christian woman
‒ and became a devoted wife and loving mother. Miss Marilyn gently
passed away on October 31, 2021 at Pine Ridge Extended Care Center in
Pagosa Springs, CO. She was 94.
After receiving a BA at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, OH, 1950,
Marilyn married her high school sweetheart, Spike Duncan. Together
they raised three sons: David, Ross and Robert. In 1963 the young
family moved from Beaver, PA to faraway Dallas, TX, learned the
language and strange customs, and made it their home. In 1969 Marilyn
received her Masters degree at SMU in speech therapy and pathology.
She started her career at the Richardson Independent School District and
became Coordinator of the Speech Therapy Program: 1972-1992.
Marilyn was a member of the Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas, and was an avid volunteer:
Initiated Volunteer Program helping children with mental disorders (Beaver County); Sunday School
Teacher for 15 years; a Home-bound Visitor for many decades; was a Daughter of the American
Revolution, Regent of the Nancy Horton Davis Chapter, North Dallas; and was a Friend of the Dallas
Symphony Orchestra. She was a beacon to all, a teacher, social lioness, world traveler, fashion maven
(considered a clinical shopaholic) ‒ and was a pure delight! She will be missed terribly.
Preceding her in death: parents, Amy and Herbert Shaffer of New Brighton, PA; older sister, Maneeta
Heckathorne of Midland,TX; husband of fifty years, MP “Spike” Duncan of Dallas; son, Robert P
Duncan of Dallas; nephew, Wendell Heckathorne of San Antonio; grandson, Tait Duncan of Los Lunas,
NM; second husband, George T McCulloch of Dallas; third husband, Lt. Col. (retired Army) Jack P
Smith of Dallas.
Survivors include: younger sister, Beverely Inge Price (Ron) of Sebring, OH; son, DC Duncan (Jaye)
of Pagosa Springs, CO; son, Ross Duncan of Pagosa Springs, CO; niece, Amy Sue Ray (Jack) of Hilton
Head Island, SC; nephew, Richard Inge (Marianne and children, Amy Elizabeth and Ben) of Beaver,
PA; nephew, Gregory Inge (sons, Jeb and Jake) of Beaver, PA; nephew, Lt. Com. (Chaplain, retired
Navy) Robin Heckathorne (Kathy and children, Whitney and Chris) of Hendersonville, NC; all her
wonderful stepchildren and step-grandchildren, including stepdaughter Julia Monroe and family of
Dallas; close friend and confidant, Tracy Wofford and her friends at Presbyterian Village North, Dallas;
best friend, Love Decker of Carrollton, TX; her good friends, Carolyn Adriance and the Golden Girls
of greater Dallas; and all of those whom Marilyn touched in so many ways.
A memorial service will be held at the Wildwood Chapel at Restland Memorial Park (Greenville
Avenue, just north of LBJ) on Thursday the 18th of November at 10:00am.
http://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/63812/hash:A66FACC496D407F0
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