Laney Byrge Duncan of the Dutch Valley Community entered into eternal life June 10 at Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge.
She was born to the late Calloway and Nancy Reynolds Byrge of New River on Feb. 7, 1921.
Laney was preceded in death by her husband, Joe (Lowe) Duncan; by a son, Sloane R. Duncan and his wife, Donna Jean (Scott) Duncan; by a daughter-in-law, Deborah J. Smith; a grandson, N. Bradley Seiber; by sisters, Laurie (Byrge) Phillips, Nellie Phillips, Rosa Lee (Byrge) Phillips Prevette; a brother, Henry Byrge; by brother-in-laws, Bill Phillips, Ethel “EP” Phillips and Ed Phillips; by half-brothers, Riley, Bill, Frank, Mike, and Jim Byrge; and by a half-sister, Ida Belle Byrge Kennedy.
Mrs. Duncan was fondly known as little Laney, and she lived in the Frost Bottom Community before moving to the Dutch Valley area.
Mrs. Duncan considered Big Mountain Baptist Church as her home church. However, she attended several different churches in the area with family and friends. She loved the Lord and she always put others first. She also loved children, and she enjoyed spending time with her church family and friends.
She had a love for vegetable gardening, flowers of all kinds, and quilting. Whenever she had an opportunity, she would share seeds, plants, and vegetables with her neighbors and friends.
She was a homemaker, a devoted mother, and friend to all. She especially enjoyed her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Even her cat Tom was pampered.
She loved to talk about her days growing up on New River. The past would come alive, as she told stories of the people that she grew up with and talked about the changes that have occurred through the years. She shared poems that she learned as a child, and passed those on to her children and grandchildren. When she was able, she enjoyed hiking, looking for herbs, plants, etc. A lot of these were used for medicinal purposes. She was more than willing to pass that knowledge along to others. She also enjoyed attending homecomings and decoration day at the Byrge Cemetery on New River, where her mother, father, brothers, and sisters are buried.
Mrs. Duncan is survived by sons, Tom H. (Tommy) Duncan, Forston Duncan and former daughter-in-law, Connie Braden Duncan, Buster Ruley (B.R.) Duncan and companion Debbie Datson Bunch of Clinton; by a daughter, Christaline Wing and husband, Scott of Oak Ridge; by grandchildren, Jeffery Lynn Duncan, Robin Annette Duncan, Melissa Braden and husband Wayne, Steven Wayne Duncan, Tommy Lee Duncan and fiance, Beth Conway, Brian Seiber, Delane Marie Duncan and fiance, Cody Brown, Emanuel James (E.J.) Duncan, Conyia Sue Duncan, Shasta Dawn York, Bryon Jessie Duncan, Benjamin Joe, Jonathan Franklin, and Joseph Nathaniel Wing; by great-grandchildren, Kristie (Braden) Hooks and husband Brian, Christopher Braden and wife Natalie, Jessey Duncan, Destiny Turpin, Shalie Alssye (Carroll) and Jaylen Marie (Brown) and due in July, Kinzy Lou Ann Brown, Courtney, Miranda, and Shaelay Hamby, Brandy Dawn, Katie Dawn and Aaron Isaiah York; and by a great-great-granddaughter, Madison Brianna Hooks.
She is also survived by a brother-in-law, Bill Prevette of West Palm Beach, Fla.; by nieces, Mary Jo Phillips Muncey of Harriman, Effie Marie Brock Partin of Lake City, and Evelyn Phillips Guy and husband, Joe of Knoxville; and other relatives and friends.
Mrs. Duncan was a kind, giving, and selfless person who always put others first. She was always willing to go above and beyond to help others and she will be greatly missed.
The family would like to thank the caring staff at Methodist Medical Center, Hospice Nurse, Billie Matchette, Chaplin, Tom Rayford, Bertha Smith, Jean Adams, Rev. Dale Crank, Angela Phillips, and Thomas Phillips for their support during this time.
The family will receive friends Thursday, June 14, between the hours of 6 and 8 p.m. at Sharp Funeral home. The funeral will be held Friday, June 15, at 2 p.m., in the chapel of Sharp Funeral Home with Rev. Larry Noe and Rev. Eugene Hunter officiating.
Burial and graveside services will follow at the Frost Bottom Cemetery.
Sharp Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. An online guest book is available at http://www.sharpfh.com/view.php?id=906.
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