Earl Duke

Earl Duke, son of the late Ervin and Bessie (Wimberly) Duke, was born on May 22, 1927 in the Green Mountain Community in Wright County, Missouri and passed away suddenly on March 13, 2007 at his residence in Mtn. Grove, Missouri. He was 79 years, 9 months, and 19 days of age.
Earl grew up in the Green Mountain and Mtn. Grove areas and graduated from Mtn. Grove High School in 1945. He was united in marriage to Berniece Baney on September 22, 1949 in Mtn. Grove. Two children were born to this union.
Earl was a self-employed fertilizer truck driver for over fifty-three years. He enjoyed working and visiting with his friends and area farmers. He was an avid outdoorsman who also enjoyed gardening and fishing with his family.
He was a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. He will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved him and by the many farmers whom he worked for over the years.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant daughter: Debra Earline; and by one brother: Herbert Duke.
He is survived by his wife of fifty-seven years: Berniece Duke of their home; his son and daughter-in-law: Duane and Sharon Duke of Mtn. Grove; one grandson: Justin Duke; five great-grandchildren; three brothers: W.C. Duke of Springfield, Missouri, Bonard Duke of the State of North Carolina, and Vance Duke of Kansas City, Missouri; one sister: Vivian McKinzie of Springfield, Missouri; several nieces; nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Family Graveside services will be held 2:00 PM, Friday, March 16, in the Hillcrest Cemetery.