Mary Jean Duncan's Obituary
Mary Jean Duncan, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, great great-grandmother and friend peacefully entered into her eternal home with Jesus on April 7, 2025, at her home in Tyler, Texas. Born in 1929 in Dallas, Texas, she lived to be 95 years old.
Mary Jean was preceded in death by beloved husband Ernest Duncan, grandson Matthew Evans and great-grandson Lucas Bailey. She is survived by daughters Mary Finley, S. Leia Evans (Bob) and Carol Shepardson (Russell). Grandchildren Briana Godbey (Josh), Maggie Ghrist (Josh), Mike Evans (Jewel), Maria Ripley (William), Brooke Cavender (Marc) and Katie Bailey (Levi). Great grandchildren Annabelle and Grace Godbey, Matthew, Caleb and Jordan Ghrist, Jemma, Trudy and Maisy Evans, Peter, Gwen, Lucas and Warren Ripley, Ryan and Abigail Bailey, and a niece, Cindy Robison. Mary Jean is also survived by a very large family of her late husband Ernest including three sons, John, Michael, and Drue Duncan, and daughter, Nina “Sam” Hibler. There are numerous step grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Mary Jean attended Southside Baptist in Tyler, Texas in recent years where she was active in her Sunday School class. She supported her family serving in missions. She always loved to travel, in the early years with her best friend, Jeannine, and then with husband, Ernest all over the United States, and in later
years internationally to see her family in Europe and Africa.
Mary Jean was a consummate storyteller and always lit up a room with stories of her great adventures! She had the memory of an elephant and a giving spirit. She was proud to have been able to keep her memory intact her entire 95 years.
She never met a stranger and was beloved by her numerous friends and family. She had a long career as a dental receptionist in Dallas. After marriage to Ernest, she was a dedicated volunteer at their church as well as the WMU (Women’s Missionary Union). As a civil servant she was on the Pilot Point Planning and Zoning Commission and also belonged to the Eastern Star and Daughters of the Nile.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Lighthouse for Christ Mission, Mombasa, Kenya, Maggie and Josh Ghrist https://lighthouseforchrist.org/ African Inland Mission for William and Maria Ripley at Rift Valley Academy, Kijabe, Kenya. https://usgiving.aimint.org/donate/150720
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