Obituaries

Lorraine Eltrice Ayer Duke

Photo of Lorraine Eltrice Ayer Duke
Lorraine Eltrice Ayer Duke, born March 11, 1937, died on Monday, March 30, 2015, at her home in Jacksonville, Ark. She was born to Sarah Evelyn Grindell and Willard Gilford Ayer in Newark, N.J. She married Davis Bennett Duke in 1956, and has nine children, five children by marriage, 17 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, one "But, Daughter" and one godchild. Her husband preceded her in death in 1990. She was a genuinely devoted wife and mother and consistently offered her love unconditionally. She was most proud of her family. She was selfless, kind, compassionate, understated and wanted everyone to be happy. She celebrated how much she had, never what she didn't. Her family believes she embodied the prayer of St. Francis: "Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love." She is the mother of James Charles Duke, M.D., Deborah Marie (Duke) Gatliff, Juanita Duke Robbins, Theresa Dianne Duke, Ronald Gilford Duke, Daniel Wayne Duke, Cynthia Renee Duke, Melissa Christine Duke, and Dale Bryan Duke, Esquire; mother-in-law to Cynthia Renee Croy Urman Duke, George Martin Gatliff, Glenn Farrell Robbins, M.D., Lori Jones Duke, PharmD., and Jennifer Parent Duke; "Nana" to Joshua Blaine and Jamie Pirz Duke, Amy Elizabeth and Nash Humphries, Brennan Davis Duke, Zachary Tyler Gatliff, Chelsea Danee and Will Stevens, Kathleen Elizabeth Gatliff, Brandon William Smith, Leslie Dianne Duke, Savannah Lorraine Harper, Megan Grace Duke, Lauren Claire Duke, Nicole Robbins and Wesley Wood, and Brooke Kimberly Robbins; and she is the great-grand "Nana" to Lillian Dawn Humphries, Emilie Ann Duke, and Cody, Brady, Riley and April Wood. She is "But, Mom!" to Jeannie Ross Hummel and Godmother to Jennifer Hummel. She had two half-brothers, Burton and Raymond Ayer of Plainfield, Mass., who preceded her in death. In 1975 she was named "Mother of the Year" by The Jacksonville Daily News. She worked as a secretary for the President of Catholic University, in Washington, DC and locally in the hotel industry, until she retired in 1997. Thereafter she cared for her children and grandchildren and served her church. Her life will be celebrated in Catholic service on Tuesday, April 7, 2015, at 10 a.m., at St. Jude The Apostle Catholic Church, 2403 McArthur Drive, Jacksonville, Ark. Following her service, all are invited to join her family for lunch at St. Jude. Her viewing and rosary will be on Monday, April 6, 2015, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at St. Jude The Apostle Catholic Church. She will later be interred with her husband, in a private family service, at Little Rock National Cemetery, in Little Rock, Ark. Condolences may be offered at www.mooresjacksonvillefuneralhome.com.

Published April 3, 2015

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