William Darrell Duke was born July 24, 1948, in Port Arthur, Texas, to parents Claude Ross Duke and Mary Elizabeth McAfee Duke. In 1958 the family moved from Groves to Hamshire where he grew up with his parents and siblings.
Darrell attended Hamshire-Fannett ISD, graduating from H-F in 1966. It was at H-F that he met his wife of fifty years, Sarah Jane Grammier Duke. Darrell worked in the oil fields for fifty years; he started out as a roughneck and retired as an oil field supervisor. During this time, he and Sarah raised three children: Tracy, Ross, and Tilford. He enjoyed cooking for family and friends, spending time at the beach, and following his four grandchildren to their sporting events. Darrell spent countless hours watching Kade, Paige, Macie, and Ellee practice and play softball and basketball and show pigs. He also thoroughly enjoyed driving Kade and his buddies around, taking them swimming, bowling, to the beach, movies, and out to eat.
He is survived by his wife Sarah; daughter, Tracy Marcantel and her husband, Keith; son, Ross Duke; and son, Tilford Duke and his wife, Shelly, all of Fannett. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Kade Marcantel, Jeremy Marcantel, Paige Duke, Macie Duke, and Ellee Duke; and his great grandson, Garrett. Additionally, Darrell is survived by one brother, Larry Ross Duke of Houston; sisters, Sharon Duke of Beaumont and Dian Meadows and her husband, George, of Fannett; and nephews, Justin Duke and Aaron Meadows. Darrell was preceded in death by his parents, Ross and Mary Duke.
The family requests that donations be made in Mr. Duke’s name to Chambers-Jefferson County Youth Softball, PO Box 691, Hamshire, Texas 77622.
A gathering of Mr. Duke’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Friday, August 26, 2016 at Broussard’s, 134 West Buccaneer Drive, Winnie.
