Duncan Maurice Stephens

JACKSONVILLE - Duncan Maurice Stephens, 85, of Jacksonville, passed away peacefully at his home Friday, February 25, 2024, surrounded by his wife and children. Graveside funeral services, with military honors, will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, March 1, 2024 at Coastal Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Jacksonville.
Mr Stephens was born on April 18, 1938 to Joseph and Gilma Stephens in Parkton, NC. After graduating high school, he enlisted in the United States Army National Guard in which he served for over 39 years. During his military tenure, he enrolled in OCS and upon completion, became an Infantry Officer. During that time, he also graduated from Regents College with a Bachelor's Degree. He then completed aviation school and served as a helicopter pilot for decades. Duncan was the first Commander of the North Carolina Apache Battalion and later served as the Commander of the 449th Aviation Group, retiring as a Colonel in Aviation Combined Arms. During his service, Duncan was awarded with several honors including the Army Aviation Badge, Army Service Ribbon, Army Masters Aviation Badge, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Senior Aviation Badge, the North Carolina National Guard Service Award, the North Carolina Commendation Medal, and the North Carolina Meritorious Service Medal. Duncan would say throughout the entirety of his life that enrolling in the National Guard was one of the best decisions he ever made, and that was apparent to all who knew him through his reverence and dedication to his country and the love of his lifelong "Guard buddies," most notably General Bobby Webb, Colonel Terry Benson, and Colonel Les Everett.
Duncan was also a North Carolina State Highway Patrolman for over 4 years, a fact he loved repeating to the many officers who pulled him over for speeding. "Sir," he would say, "I should know better. I was on the Highway Patrol."
Duncan was a passionate and skilled car salesman and spent 55 years in the automobile business. From entry-level salesman to at one point owning his own dealership, Duncan Stephens Ford, he was an avid and lifelong learner of the business and thoroughly enjoyed building lasting relationships with his coworkers and clients. Until the time he passed, Duncan was a proud employee of Moore Buick Pontiac in Jacksonville, where he was a "Moore boy" for over 36 years. His family would like to extend a special thank you to the Moore Buick family, particularly Don and Charles Williamson, whose generosity, kindness and love to Duncan over the years, and particularly over the past several months, has been a constant source of comfort and joy.
Duncan met his wife of 36 years, Connie, in New Bern, North Carolina. They were married in 1987 and had two children together, Alexandra (Alex) and Samuel (Sam). Duncan was a dedicated husband, a proud and loving father, and a doting grandfather. Some of his greatest joys in life were sitting on the back porch drinking a glass of bourbon (with just a SPLASH of water), experimenting with vegetables and plants in his garden, tending to the lawn, taking vacations with his wife and children, and watching his grandchildren play and grow. Duncan was the hardest working man most knew, and continually instilled the value of hard work and tenacity into his children. He loved making lists (he even made "to do lists" for his wife and children, much to their dismay) and waking up early to take on each day. Because of this, his daughter still believes to this day that if you aren't at least 15 minutes early, you're late. As hard as he worked, he also loved to play, and was truly the life of every party. He enjoyed practical jokes and reminiscing about all the mischief he was involved in over the course of his life. He never met a stranger. As his good friend Terry Benson said, "No one could have more fun or get up earlier than Duncan."
Duncan is survived by his wife, Connie S. Stephens; his daughter, Alexandra Cartagena and son-in-law, Irving Cartagena; his son, Samuel Stephens and daughter-in-law, Candice Stephens; his grandchildren, Malakai Stephens, Jonathan Ever Stephens, and Aria Cartagena; and his four sisters, Dolores Canady, Norma Vanhoesen, Elizabeth McLean (Stan McLean), and Claudia Graham (Carl Graham).
In lieu of flowers, Duncan's family requests your presence at a celebration of life at The Grazing Tray at 720 Court St, Jacksonville, NC, 28540 at 11:30 AM following the service.