Robert "Bob" Duffey

2023-03-02 Obituary – Robert “Bob” Duffey

Robert "Bob" Duffey, motorcycle stuntman, husband, father, and cherished friend passed away on March 2nd, 2023 at the age of 73 from kidney failure. Bob Duffey's motorcycle adventures took him to 49 of the United States, plus Canada, Mexico, South America, and Germany. He called Las Cruces, New Mexico home from birth to death. Bob began riding motorcycles at age eight, racing at 18, and then performing wheelies and jumps professionally in 1972. Duffey was the first person to jump a motorcycle over a running helicopter. He pioneered riding motorcycles backwards, backwards wheelies, and the pop-can wheelie - which he performed with his two sons, Jerry and Lonnie. He married his high school sweetheart, Ana Witherspoon Duffey, in 1968 and they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2018. Over the course of his career, Bob did over 1,200 successful stunt shows and jumps with only 4 crashes - a record unmatched by any other motorcycle stuntman. In addition to his solo shows, he also traveled with the Joie Chitwood Auto Thrill Show, Dan Fleenor's Hurricane Hell Drivers, and Bossle’s Teufelskerle. He was featured in an episode of "American Pickers", "That's Incredible", and CBS Sports Spectacular's "World Champion Motorcycle Jumping Competition". In his retirement years Bob was happy to help any motorcyclist in need that called or happen to come through Cruces from anywhere in the world. He could often be found with one of his purple motorcycles or his purple Chevy van at a local restaurant telling stories of his travels. Bob was a life long member of the Christian Motorcycle Association.

Bob is predeceased by his father and mother, Johnny and Mildred Duffey, and his brother and nephew, Billy and Evelyn Duffy, and Charlie Duffy. He is survived by his wife, Ana Duffey, and two sons and their wives, and three grandchildren, Jerry and Lynn Duffey, James Duffey, and Lonnie and Cheryl Duffey, Jaxon Duffey, Victoria Duffey, as well as his brothers’ families, Shorty and Kathy Duffey, Janet Duffey, Lloyd Duffey, and Pat and Nemi Duffey, Tammy Murphy, Tricia Duffey, Daniel Duffey; and his nephew Jack Duffy.

A memorial service will be held at Temple Baptist Church, 2300 Missouri Ave., Las Cruces, NM 88001 on Friday, March 10th at 10 AM. A luncheon will be provided by the church family after the service. Out of respect for Bob, skip the ties, suits, and black. Instead wear purple or white.

A memorial motorcycle, classic car, and hot rod cruise will meet in the Walmart parking lot on Valley Drive on Saturday, March 11th at 9 AM sharp. Out of respect for Bob, all motorcycle riders will wear helmets; no cussing, and no harleys.

In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to Temple Baptist Church, 2300 Missouri Ave., Las Cruces, NM 88001, 575-522-4411. Any questions, contact Jerry via Duffey-at-Zianet-dot-com or seventhreetwotwoonethreeseveneightsixzero

Service arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Baca’s Funeral Chapels of Las Cruces and Sunset Crematory, 527-2222. Your exclusive provider for “Veterans and Family Memorial Care.” For online condolences logon to www.bacasfuneralchapelslascruces.com