Legrand Monroe Duncan

LeGrand Monroe Duncan passed from this world on the evening of September 30, 2014, after 11 years of slow progressing dementia and Alzheimer's disease. He was 89. LeGrand was born on September 2, 1925, in Marion County, South Carolina to Monroe and Marie Duncan and was the third of four children.

Although he was raised on a thriving tobacco farm, growing up during the Great Depression required LeGrand to seek, at a very early age, any available work in order to make ends meet and put food on the table. Some of that work included operating a cotton gin (that nearly took his life at the age of 12 when he accidently fell into the hopper while the machine was operating) and driving a bootleg car delivering sugar and other "products" to various business men during the years of prohibition. LeGrand lost his mother to cancer when he was 13.

In 1950, at the age of 25, LeGrand made the journey by car from South Carolina to Casper, Wyoming, seeking summer employment. That summer's job-seeking excursion lasted for the next 59 years. He never returned to South Carolina to live and chose instead to settle in Casper enjoying the outdoors, working and (eventually) marrying and raising three sons.

After deciding to make a go of it in Casper, LeGrand developed a trade as an auto mechanic and worked for Nagel Motors, the local Buick and Pontiac dealership in Casper. He eventually advanced from the front lines to Service Manager of the repair shop and worked 20 years for Nagel Motors. He changed jobs and moved into the management of various local retail liquor stores eventually settling in at Bi-Rite Drug and Liquor where he worked for the next 20 years.

He married Mary Jewell Duncan in 1958. Mary Jewell was the Director of Natrona County's Meals on Wheels in Casper from 1975 to 1992. She went home to Jesus in October of 1992 shortly after she retired. After Mary Jewell's death, LeGrand retired and continued on as a volunteer driver and eventually a Board Member at the Natrona County Meals on Wheels. His service as a volunteer for Meals on Wheels encompassed 35 years. In the ensuing years he traveled frequently to Denver and Grand Junction, Colorado to visit his three sons and enjoy his many grandchildren.

He moved to Arvada, Colorado, in May of 2009 in order to be closer to his family and live in a facility that could care for him as his dementia and Alzheimer's progressed. Although LeGrand was a quiet man of few words and of little means, he had a kind, gentle and giving heart, giving freely of his time and always willing to help someone in need. He taught his three sons a strong work ethic and to do whatever it takes to be there for your family - something they will be forever grateful for. He was a true southern gentleman and carried this graceful demeanor throughout his life. He was dearly loved by his family and those that knew him. A special thank you to those who cared for him during his last three years at "The Lane at Springwood" in Arvada, Colorado - their love, patience, attention, care and understanding were deeply appreciated by LeGrand and his family.

LeGrand is preceded in death by both his parents, his sisters Gladys and Marion, his brother Haskell, and his wife, Mary Jewell.

He is survived by his three sons and their wives or partner; Henry F. & Sandra Schlueter of Littleton Colorado, Paul M. & Chris Duncan of Arvada Colorado, and Patrick J. Duncan & Jeanne Golembiewski of Grand Junction, Colorado; nine grandchildren; Julia, Kathryn, Matt, Mandy, Molly, Moriah, Colton, Connor and Katie, and two great grand children; Isabella "Izzy" and Franklin.

A memorial service and mass will be held for LeGrand at 10:00 on Saturday, October 25, 2014, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church located at 604 S. Center St, Casper, Wyoming.

Those planning an expression of sympathy are urged to consider a memorial to either: 1) Natrona County Meal on Wheels, 1760 E. 12th St, Casper, Wyoming 82601; or 2) Alzheimer's Association, 455 Sherman St, Suite 500, Denver, Colorado 80203.