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Cama Duke posted a condolence
Sunday, May 8, 2022
Thank you all for sharing kind words and memories about my mother, Donna Duke. A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Boone on Saturday, June 4, 2022 at 11 am.
-Cama Duke
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Xiaomin Hou posted a condolence
Saturday, January 29, 2022
As a foreign student, I was lucky to live with Dukes family for one year and a half in the late 1980s. They gave me generous help and treated me as a family member. Apart from boarding, they provided me with advice and explanations about so many things. Coming from China, a very different cultural background, it was their guidance and care that made me feel at home in my first years in this continent. With their help, I was able to adapt quickly to the new environment and successfully completed my postgraduate education. I have been very grateful for their wonderful help and happy to see our friendship lasted for more than 30 years.
Until today, I still have vivid impression of Donna. Her smiles, her kindness, her high spirit, her numerous projects and activities, ..., are all my happy memories. I cherish them forever.
Xiaomin
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ingrid lit a candle
Monday, January 17, 2022
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Best Town Mom ever who enthusiastically extended her passion for repurposing and upcycling to overnight guess from the Boonies long before these things were ever a "thing," and who quite simply expected participation in community and justice from all she encountered, and rightly so. Thanks so much Donna.
Ingrid H.
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Kathryn Soeder posted a condolence
Tuesday, January 11, 2022
I only just learned of Donna"s passing. She was a huge part of my life for many years. From making sure I still had a ride to church after my mother died, to ski trips with our friends. Donna was quirky and full of energy and fun! She was such a loving, giving person. My condolences go out to Miles and Cama, whom I grew up with. Your mom will never be forgotten.
Love and Hugs,
Kathryn Soeder
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Billie Lister posted a condolence
Thursday, August 5, 2021
We are sad to say goodbye to such a wonderful person! We will all miss her so much.
Billie Lister-Lois E. Harrill Senior Center Director
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Phyllis Salesky posted a condolence
Wednesday, August 4, 2021
Donna is truly one of my Most Memorable Characters and one of the people most influential in my life. I was a first-year college student in 1966 (at the advanced age of 21) when I roomed with the Dukes during their Bozeman years. I babysat Miles and waited along with them for baby Cama to be born. The times they were a changing, and the roles of women were being heatedly discussed. Donna really could do it all. She had learned basic plumbing skills, coming upstairs with a bucket of tools to retrieve a ring I had dropped down the bathroom sink! When I got married and was living in Miami, Donna sent me a set of trivets which she had made with her woodworking skills and tools. One of my favorite memories of Donna is from about 20 years at Thanksgiving. My husband and I were doing a farewell tour to friends in the South before moving back to Montana. When we arrived at the Dukes, Donna had a chalkboard with the menu items, & we had to sign up to specify our particular duty. At one point during preparation, Cama said, “Well, Mama, you have achieved your dream. All your guests are working, and you are sitting at the table.” I loved that lady! Just telling that story again makes me laugh. Donna and I corresponded as long as she was able. As you have seen in her obituary, she was a woman of great energy and intellect, with a generous and wide view of the world and of our responsibilities as citizens of the world. What a great role model for me at the age of 21! Love to all you Dukes.
Phyllis Surface Salesky
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Amanda Potter Janouskovec uploaded photo(s)
Tuesday, August 3, 2021
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I am so sorry to hear of Donna's passing. She was such an incredible person and Influenced my life in a million positive ways. I truly do not believe I would be the same person I am today if she had not been my Scout Leader.
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Dan Duke posted a condolence
Tuesday, August 3, 2021
For our six years in Montana, among many happy memories were the births of Miles first, Cama second. We came to love theater-in-the-round, which was new to us. Both Bozeman and the restored early wild-western town Virginia City 100 or so miles away offered many such shows.
Our last three years in Bozeman, Donna found many foreign students in need of a room who stayed with us a week, month, or a semester. One was from China, two from Guatemala, and one from an African nation. Four prospective MSU students piled in together for a week’s stay. A gifted female MSU student stayed several months and, while acing classes, often was a babysitter for Miles and Cama. Donna for her feminism became a life-influencing role model for her.
At Donna's instigation we hosted many national and international personages. I particularly recall a festive night with three Thai MSU visiting diplomats. I was often enlisted to drive VIPs into Yellowstone Park (always with much pleasure!).
We were also into politics. We attended more than one barbecue near Three Forks under the Big Sky where two rivers converge. Then there were rallies and our help for the campaign for Eugene McCarthy not to mention being in a parade of cars when he visited. Another time Senate Leader Mike Mansfield came to campaign. Though we attended many large audience dinner and speeches, Donna and I fondly remember a breakfast speech on the MSU campus attended by maybe 30 souls in a room that might accommodate only a few more. Up close politics is common in small population states, a great perk for involved citizens like Donna.
Donna had a stint teaching a history course at MSU, and there were rounds of parties with many faculty and town friends. On the just-for-fun front, Donna fell in love with skiing on the nearby glorious Bridger Mountain slopes. Deep snowbound Yellowstone Park in frigid winter with subzero temperatures found us enjoying a snowmobile trip in comfort and wonder. The many-talented Donna ventured into beer-making for me. Alas, six large bottles of beer in an enclosed spade splattered one night when the thermometer dipped 30 or so degrees. The mess ended that endeavor.
My games were golf and bridge, and she gave both a try. She played one round with me, only one, and she looked like she had promise with a few good shots (not many) but with surprisingly good form and stance. "It takes too much time," she said, and never played again. She played duplicate bridge one time for charity, when a novice player was to play with an experienced player. She won, 27 pairs competing, but "For charity" is all that got her there, and she did not take to the game. Bozeman and MSU were a rich six years for us both.
The obituary daughter Cama wrote describes her activism and dedicated service here in our 31 years in Boone. I especially recall her love, service, and dedication to the Episcopal Church. If the Olympics gave a Gold Medal for citizenship, she would be one of the winners.
We separated amicably after 31 years. My current wife Susan, Donna, and I remained friendly and attended many family reunions together. I wholeheartedly salute and admire my ex-wife. Not many come along with so many gifts to her town, state, country, and world.
Dan Duke
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Bonnie and Ev Babcock uploaded photo(s)
Tuesday, August 3, 2021
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We met Donna more than 50 years ago in Montana. She was already active in the church, the community, and the university while wrangling two toddlers! And still found time to send us delicious dinners after each of our kids was born. She was an adventuresome cook who would have done well in a CHOPPED competition!
They welcomed us to NC and were surrogate family for us when we moved to NC for grad school! We share family memories of spending a week together at the beach and visiting each other in Boone and Atlanta. Visiting here after Miles and Cynthia's wedding, Donna put us all to work, unravelling sweaters so she could collect the silk yarn for a weaving project. Never a dull moment with Donna around!
Donna was an inspiration to many; she'll be missed.
Ev and Bonnie Babcock
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Lori Nicklin posted a condolence
Tuesday, August 3, 2021
Our family has been blessed by nearly forty years of friendship with Donna Lee - an awesome lady. We have so many memories - too difficult to pick out one. We treasure all of them. Bob and Lori, Adrienne and Alison Nicklin
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Mary Willis posted a condolence
Saturday, July 31, 2021
I was inspired by Donna to question authority and follow the experiences of others! She was emphatic in her beliefs. Some of the statements that I remember of hers are: "God made 2 year olds adorable so that we would keep them alive!" and " Don't try to reinvent the wheel, offer a program to a group who already gather!" I also remember her creative snacks at St. Luke's, made of an amalgum of whatever was on hand in her refrigerator.
She was the epitomy of a super smart woman who wanted to make the world better.
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Sandra Basel posted a condolence
Tuesday, July 27, 2021
Donna and I met as graduate students together in 1970. We enjoyed fifty years of laughs, adventures and trips to Florida. I just saw her last week and have thought so often about how much I have missed her as she has traveled on the journey that led her to Deerfield. In the early 70’s, Donna sat on the street corner, now home to a new pizza place, counting cars to see if traffic would be manageable with the proposed fast food restaurant coming to town. She was someone who brought great laughs and joy into my life and I admired her energy and talent. She lives on in my heart.
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Diane Washburn posted a condolence
Tuesday, July 27, 2021
So sorry to hear of Donna's passing. I worked with Donna for years at HRBlock and always remember her laugh, she made doing taxes a happy time for her and her clients (which became friends).. Glad I got a chance to see her when she would come to the senior center. She will be missed.
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Christina Moore posted a condolence
Tuesday, July 27, 2021
I don’t remember a time spent w Donna that she wasn’t smiling and laughing. I’m so happy to see you included the UFO group in your tribute. I never joined, but thought it was brilliant and funny, just like Donna.
She was a real light in Boone. I’ll miss running in to her and hearing her laugh & seeing her smile.
Keep her memory close and always talk of her.
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Lisa Neal posted a condolence
Monday, July 26, 2021
I have no memories of Donna in which she isn't smiling. What a lovely contribution she made to our world. I was lucky to know her. Rest in love.
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Sophie Williams posted a condolence
Monday, July 26, 2021
I don't remember when Donna and Dan came to Boone, but it seems like I've known Donna all my life. She was a force of nature. She and Dan used to socialize with my parents, Cratis and Libby Williams. She came to many parties at our house. My brother David used to play Contract Bridge with Dan. I always enjoyed running into Donna around town. I've missed running into her in recent years. And I'm going to miss her in the future.
My condolences to Miles and Cama.
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Sue sweeting posted a condolence
Monday, July 26, 2021
Wow! What a very special person! I will miss her. She and Spencer will be leading the causes in heaven!! Love you all.
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Donna HIcks lit a candle
Monday, July 26, 2021
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I am so sorry to hear about Donna's passing. She was always nice to me. I went to church with her many years ago. I remember her son.. My condolence. She will me missed. Love, Donna and Glenn Hicks
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Claudia Hartmann lit a candle
Monday, July 26, 2021
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Oh Cama.....I am so very sorry for your loss. I only met your mother a handful of times, but I feel I knew her grace, strength, and character through you. I know you were a shining light for her. Please know I am thinking of you and your family and sending you my love and sympathy.
-Claudia
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The family of Donna Lee Duke uploaded a photo
Monday, July 26, 2021
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Austin & Barnes
Funeral Home and Crematory
194 Queen Street
Boone, North Carolina
28607
Phone: (828) 264-8888
Fax: (828) 264-8889