Marilyn Sadler Duncan

Marilyn Sadler Duncan, aged 79, passed away on August 21, 2011 in Jacksonville, Florida after a long illness. Mrs. Duncan was the widow of Alfred G. Duncan Jr., who died in 2006. Mrs. Duncan was born in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1932. She was the daughter of William Harold Sadler and Gladys McClain Sadler. Mr. Sadler was active for many years in Arkansas business, civic and political affairs. Mrs. Duncan graduated from Little Rock's Central High School. She attended Mary Washington College in Virginia and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in English. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority. After graduating from college and before her marriage, Mrs. Duncan pursued several interesting paths, each of which reflected her energy and zest for life, sense of curiosity and extraordinary kindness. In particular, she taught English to schoolchildren in rural Arkansas, flew for American Airlines and worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. During her travels around the world with her husband, Mrs. Duncan became an active collector of seashells and a member of the Conchologists of America. In addition, Mrs. Duncan was an enthusiastic tennis player and an avid reader of mysteries. Mrs. Duncan was a longtime member of the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, the New Orleans Country Club, and a founding member of the Deerwood Country Club. Mrs. Duncan is survived by a daughter, Darrielle Duncan of Jacksonville, Florida, a son, Alfred G. Duncan III of Los Angeles and a brother, William R. Sadler of New York City and Garrison, New York. There will be a funeral service at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, August 29, 2011 at Southside United Methodist Church of which Mrs. Duncan was a member for many years. Following the service, the family will receive friends at a luncheon at 12 noon at the church. A private graveside service will follow. Rev. Gene Zimmerman and Bruce Jones, former and current pastors of Southside Methodist, will conduct the services. The family requests that memorial donations be made to The Marilyn Duncan Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund at the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 1500 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 200, Manhattan Beach, California 90266. For more information on the organization, please call (877) 272-6226 or visit www.pancan.org. Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home will make the arrangements.