Joan Norris Duncan

JOAN NORRIS DUNCAN
A service celebrating the life of Joan Norris Duncan will be held at 4:30 pm Sunday, January 10,2016 at St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church in Lufkin, Texas with a reception to follow in the Parish Hall. She will be interred at the St. Cyprian’s Columbarium at a later date.

Joan was born in Waco, Texas on May 31, 1934 and died peacefully on January 7, 2016 at her home in Lufkin.
A graduate of Waco High School, Joan first attended Texas Tech University and graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University. She married Rufus Higginbotham Duncan on August 30, 1954 and moved to Lufkin the following January. One of the greatest joys of her life
was the partnership she and Rufus had for their 44 years in this community they loved.
Joan and Rufus were blessed with three wonderful children and two fabulous “out-laws”, as she loved to describe them—Jane Duncan Ainsworth, Rufus Higginbotham Duncan and his wife Marianna, and Harriet Duncan Tamminga and her husband David. As she said told people, she had the most loving and caring grandchildren imaginable—Joan Patricia Tamminga of Austin, William David Tamminga and wife Kate of Houston, Scott Baker Duncan of Lufkin, John Duncan
Ainsworth and wife Abby of Houston, Leigh Pearson Ainsworth of Washington, DC and Frances Higginbotham Ainsworth of Houston.
Her joy was complete by the addition of three great grandchildren —Ellen Claire Tamminga, Molly Kathryn Tamminga and Walker Duncan Ainsworth, all of Houston.
She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Malcolm Duncan of Waco, her brothers- and sisters-in-law Baker and Sally Duncan of San Antonio and Laura and Jerry Trim of Albuquerque and a host of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Rufus, in 1998; her
sister, Mary Ruth Duncan; and her parents, Welda Mae and John Patrick Norris.

Joan devoted herself to family, friends and community. She was an active, energetic volunteer with numerous civic organizations. Joan was instrumental in starting the Museum of East Texas
and a founder of what she affectionately called the “pink ladies” hospital auxiliary at what is now CHI St. Luke’s Memorial Hospital. She was a long-time Board member with the Salvation Army and with Kurth Memorial Library, active in the Junior League of Lufkin and a strong supporter of Planned Parenthood.
Joan demonstrated throughout her life that a positive attitude and a good sense of humor will carry you far. She leaves behind a legacy of a life well lived.

Contributions in Joan’s memory made be made to the charity of your choice. Her hand and her
heart were given to many organizations—too many to name.