Leo Happy Duncan

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Leo "Happy" Duncan. Hap died peacefully at his home on Saturday, February 3, 2024, as he had lived, on his own terms and with immense strength and bravery, surrounded by, and immersed in the love of, family and dear friends.

Hap was born on October 19, 1942, in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, and was lovingly raised, along with his sister Maureen Duncan Murphy, by his parents Leo Francis Duncan and Helen Ruane Duncan. He attended North Union, now called Laurel Highlands, High School, and after graduating in 1961, he joined the US Navy and honorably served for 7 years.

In the Navy, Hap joined the Underwater Demolition Team. He kept our country safe during the Cuban Missile Crisis and was part of the NASA Gemini II recovery mission. His time as a frogman, serving with his beloved UDT 22 Seal Team 2 unit, were the greatest years of his life and created lifelong friendships with his Seal brothers.

Out of the Navy, Hap moved to California, where he met Linda Dunnill and adopted her daughter Michelle. Hap, Linda, and toddler Michelle moved together to Northern California. With a husky dog and Hap's love for Jack London books, the next move for the small family was up to Kenai, Alaska, where work in the wild frontier territory included oil rigger tending and bar managing, but his greatest adventure in Alaska was the birth of their son, Casey.

From Alaska they moved to the idyllic island of Maui, Hawaii, where Hap learned the trade of horse farrier. This vocation exposed him to some of the most beautiful country he would see in his life. He developed more deep lifelong friendships in Hawaii.

Hap went on to study ranch management and proudly worked on the Gainey Arabian Horse Ranch in Minnesota, training and breeding this elite bloodline who were desired worldwide because of their superb lineage. Hap returned to Uniontown and ran the Cabaret Nightclub, then Lucky Leo's Bar. These years were spent living it up in comradery with loyal longtime friends.

Nancy Jacobson was a bank teller who Hap had known all his life. When circumstances brought them back together, Hap swept her off her feet and they married. After living in Uniontown for a number of years, they moved to Naples, Florida together. The Florida years with the love of his life were sun filled and happy. He rode his Harley and loved playing cards with friends, and when they chose to move to Santa Fe to be near Casey and Michelle, they embraced their newest community with the same love.

Nancy passed in 2018, and Hap lived the rest of his days in Madrid, New Mexico, steps away from Casey and Casey's wife, Nancy. He helped with their business, made more dear friends, and adopted a Boxer puppy, Alice, whom he adored.

Hap was charismatic, a friend to all he met. He was the bravest man we knew. When asked what he wanted to be remembered for, he said that he'd loved everybody, really loved the people in his life. Of all the adventures that he experienced, his greatest accomplishment was being Casey and Michelle's dad. Those of us who got to share a smile and a laugh and see that twinkle in Hap's eyes were lucky, indeed.

A memorial will be planned in Madrid, New Mexico.