Jeffrey Gragg Duty

Jeffrey Gragg Duty began his life within the walls of the Ventura Community Memorial Hospital, Ventura, California, July 24, 1969, at 11:21 pm, to his parents Nathan Duty and Pamela Gragg Duty.

Jeffrey Gragg Duty passed away October 21, 2023, at 12:19 pm, from the horror of cancer at his mother's home in Ventura, CA.

Jeff moved from Ventura to Orland, California, to live with his father during his formative years going into the 6th grade at C. K. Price Middle School. Jeff graduated from Orland High School in 1988. Upon his graduation from Orland High, Jeff entered the United States Army and was trained as a mechanic on Blackhawk Helicopters.

During Jeff's five years in the United States Army, he spent a tour in Germany, where he was able to travel and see a lot of Europe. Jeff was part of the first units deployed to Kuwait for Operation Desert Shield and then combat during Operation Desert Storm. After returning to his home base of Fort Bragg, NC, after Desert Storm, Jeff was deployed back to Kuwait two more times before his enlistment ended.

After being released from the United States Army, Jeff spent a brief time in Ventura visiting his mother and sisters and related families before returning to Orland to settle in and begin his further education at Butte College and then Chico State. It was at Chico State that many of Jeff's fantastic lasting friendships began and lasted until the day and hour of his passing.

After graduating from Chico State with a BA degree Jeff and some of his friends, all computer programmers nuts, started Ardeo Tech in Chico. Ardeo Tech was a great learning experience for Jeff and friends that lead to other good things for all of them.

Jeff purchased his first and only home in Sacramento where spent several years working for the Sacramento School District as a computer programmer and most recently for a Berkshire Hathaway company based in Sacramento.

Jeff was a certified scuba diver, jumped out of a few perfectly good airplanes, became interested and active in renaissance fairs and medieval sword play in Germany, which continue on for years after the Army with local Chico renaissance folks.

Jeff practiced martial arts for years, studying primarily in Chico and when visiting family in Ventura would study at a dojo in Ventura that had ties with the Chico dojo.

Jeff's other hobbies included; Drones, Photography, Drawing, 3D Printers, Wood Working and paint ball contests. Jeff sat and rode a horse like he belonged on one, owning two horses, Scout, a paint gelding and Ginger, a sorrel mare, when he was attending Orland High.

Jeff was surrounded by his mother, Pamela Duty; older sister, Kara Duty Hillock; sister, Michele Duty Craft all of Ventura; and close friends Jason and Kelley Musselman. Jason and Kelly were a part of his fantastic group of friends from Northern California that came to his aid when his grim diagnosis and prognosis was delivered to Jeff.

Without hesitation they came to his aid in force, tending to his needs, including a few minor repairs to his house to help get it ready to sell prior to his move back to Ventura. Jeff's cadre like group of fantastic friends took turns traveling a thousand miles or more so his friends were always with Jeff 24 hours a day every day up to his passing, an incredible demonstration of what true friendship and family truly is.

A family memorial service to be announced at a later date.