Esther JoAnn Duncan went to be with Our Lord April 29, 2024 at Ft. Bayard Medical Center, Santa Clara, NM.     

JoAnn was the only child of her parents:  George and Esther Lanphere.  She was born in Bisbee, AZ and grew up spending a lot of time with her cousins:  Chuck, Coleen, and Charlie.  JoAnn graduated from Bisbee High School and married her high school sweetheart Leonard Duncan on March 11, 1956.  They had four children:  Nita, Wayne, Tommy and Randy.  It was her great joy to care for her family!  She loved each one of them.  Her cooking was second to none, always making special recipes passed down from her mother as well as new ones given to her by friends.  

When her father needed care, Leonard and JoAnn opened their house to Grandpa George.  She worked tirelessly taking care of him.  After he passed and Leonard retired, they spent a lot of time traveling to see children, grandchildren and other friends and family.  They spent their summers in Alpine, AZ at Luna Lake where friends and family would visit to play cards and have some pistachio “green” cake.  When Leonard became sick, she cared for him at home and at Ft. Bayard until he passed.  Her last couple of years, while living at Ft. Bayard, she enjoyed the friendship of fellow residents and employees.  She worked word search puzzles and partook in the many activities like bowling, going for rides, going to the Fourth of July Parade in Silver City, fishing and making pillows.  She always treasured the visits, cards, phone calls and letters she received from her family and dear friends.  After a recent illness she said she was very, very tired and she was ready; reminding her children to love each other and take care of our families.  

 Mom, we love you and we will miss you so much!    

The Duncan family wants to thank the entire staff and caregivers of Fort Bayard Medical Center, especially the Memory Unit, for their love and care of ‘Esther’.  They were her family and she loved and appreciated each one.  

JoAnn was preceded in death by her husband Leonard, her son Wayne, and grandsons Waylon Duncan and Caelen Bloss.   

She is survived by her daughter Nita (Larry) Bloss, their children:  Brian, Mike, Tim, Jonathan, Kimberly, Mary, Aaron and Geoffrey and their families; Wayne’s children:  Jason and Randi and their families; Tommy (Gerina) and their son:  Fr. Thomas; Randy (Gina), their children:  Melissa, Kadra, Stephanie, Lyndon, Damian and their families; 29 great grandchildren and 2 great, great grandchildren.  

Interment for both Leonard and JoAnn will be at the Alpine, AZ Cemetery at a later date.

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