Jan. 18, 1927-Feb. 10, 2014
Madeline Mae Duncan, 87, died on Feb. 10, 2014.
She was born in Gull Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada, on Jan. 18, 1927 to Jack and Cora Decker, the third of four girls born to the pharmacist and his wife. They lived a quiet, happy life there for many years until relocating to Toronto when she was a teen.
The home that the Decker family bought was next door to the Duncan family and Bill Duncan soon became interested in Maddy Decker. They were married on Sept. 6, 1947 after an exciting courtship centered on motorcycle riding. After marrying, the couple moved to the suburb of Downsview, Ontario, where the couple raised two daughters and a son.
Mr. Duncan loved flying, and his dream was to move to California, where he could fly year-round. The family moved to Southern California in 1967. Mrs. Duncan loved her new life but hungered for more. In 1972, somehow she was introduced to Jesus Christ the Savior, and that transformed the lives of many, including her family down to the fourth generation.
The Duncans loved flying together. Mr. Duncan built five airplanes in his lifetime, and Mrs. Duncan sewed the upholstery for all of them. They flew countless trips, with Mrs. Duncan reading the map, all over the country. They also spent many years enjoying motorcycle trips on their Honda Goldwing.
They enjoyed traveling to Hawaii, the Caribbean, Israel, Alaska and many other states and Canada.
Mrs. Duncan loved music and had a gift of song and piano. She used her gift to glorify her Lord daily in her home and her church. She loved life, especially her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She enjoyed sewing, singing, playing piano, her church, cooking, crafts, flying, riding motorcycles and anything life brought her way.
The Duncans settled in Sweet Home in 2005 and became part of Cornerstone Fellowship Foursquare Church. They moved to the Mennonite Village in Albany in 2009.
Mrs. Duncan is survived by her husband, William (Bill) Duncan; children Judith and son-in-law Bob Saye of Oshawa, Canada, Wendy and son-in-law Chik Fisher of Soldotna, Alaska, and Ross and daughter-in-law Christy Duncan of Sweet Home; eight grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life was held at Cornerstone Fellowship on Jan. 12.
Memorial gifts may be sent to Cornerstone Fellowship, PO Box 1, Sweet Home, OR, 97386 or to the Mennonite Village, 5353 Columbus St. SE, Albany, OR 97322.