Obituaries

John C. Duke

Photo of John C. Duke
Deacon John C. Duke was born to the late John and Dorothy Duke in Mobile, Ala. on November 5, 1929. He passed away at Saline Memorial Hospital January 23, 2014, surrounded by his loving family. John is preceded in death by his son, Bobby Duke. John served in the U.S. Navy and worked for Alcoa for 42 years. He graduated from Springhill College in Mobile, Ala. He transferred from Mobile to the Bauxite plant in 1960. Upon retiring from Alcoa, he was ordained a deacon in the Catholic Church and served at Our Lady of Fatima in Benton. He also served as Arkansas' Diaconate Director for five years. The last 27 years of John's life were characterized by service to alcoholics, addicts, troubled marriages, families in crisis, and counseling those with financial difficulties. He served as a Chaplain for the Saline County Ministerial Alliance delivering death announcements, grieving with suffering families, and taking care of the transient and homeless. His civic service included 13 years on the Saline Memorial Hospital Board and two terms as chairman of the Saline County United Way. His main focus in life was to do the will of God and build up the Kingdom of Heaven whenever, wherever, and to whomever that led him. John is survived by his wife of 63 years, Annette (Nettie) Duke; children, John Duke, Mike Duke (Stephanie), Mark Duke (Kathy), Darlene Brown (Ralph), Vincent Duke (Lorri), and Marie Duke; eleven grandchildren, Shelby, David, Amy Eric, Jeremy, Bobby, Brian, Dr. Julie Duke, Crystal, Jacob, and Coco Rhodes; eight great-grandchildren, and numerous other family and friends. There will be a Rosary service at 6:00 PM, Sunday, January 26, 2014. Following the Rosary, a visitation will be held at the church. John's Mass of Resurrection will be held at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Monday, January 27, 2014 at 10 a.m. with Rev. Y.C. Irudayaraj and Deacon John Marcheski officiating. Interment will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Park in Alexander. Serving as pallbearers will be his grandsons: David Duke, Jeremy Massey, Bobby Massey, Eric Brown, Brian Duke and Jacob Duke. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Our Lady of Fatima School Fund, 900 W. Cross St., Benton, Ark. 72015 or Christian Care Clinic, 220 W. South St., Benton, Ark. 72015 or Christian Joint Counsel on Human Needs (CJOHN), 103 E. Elm St., Benton, Ark. 72015. Online guestbook www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/ballard.

Published January 25, 2014

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