Phyllis Richmond Duncan

1912 - 2012
Phyllis Richmond Duncan, our loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and dear friend passed away peacefully of natural causes on Thursday, December 6, 2012.
She was born on September 9, 1912 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Charles B. and Blanche Kimball Richmond, the fourth of seven children. She graduated from East High School, where she lettered in track and attended the University of Utah where she was Sophomore Class Vice President and Engineering Royalty. She married LaMar "Bill" Duncan in the Salt Lake Temple on November 13, 1936 and together they had five children. She was a lifetime member of the LDS Church serving as President of the Relief Society, Young Women and Primary, as well as many other ward and stake callings. She was also active in PTA and numerous charities. In her eighties, her contribution to her ward and neighborhood was driving "The Elderly," to various appointments and activities.
The theme of her life was service. She logged 100 years of "lifting up the hands that hang down" with casseroles, rides, ironing, a listening ear and encouragement. It mattered not whether the object of her love was adults, children or animals. She was ever the advocate of the less fortunate. She was also a lot of fun and was blessed to the end with a great sense of humor as well as an athletic, physically fit body. To celebrate her 90th birthday, she went down the Alpine Slide in Park City-twice and then went bowling with her teenage grandsons. When grandma tended the grandkids, (or any other kids), it was always a party-taking them to feed the ducks, hiking to the U on the mountain or playing hide and seek. Known as the neighborhood "cookie lady," several children regularly stopped by her home after school for treats. She made friends wherever she went and kept them for life. She leaves a legacy of faith, humility and charity to her numerous posterity.
Phyllis is survived by four daughters: Dorothy Brockbank (Gary), Connie Cannon (Jim), Lori Boyer (Richard), all of Salt Lake City, and Mareen Fisher (Kimball), Portland, Oregon; her daughter-in-law, Donnetta Duncan of Arlington, Virginia; 23 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren, and her sister, Mary Nielsen. Preceded in death by her husband, her son, Wallace L. Duncan, one grandson, Richmond Lindsay Duncan, four brothers, Lawrence, Harold, Grant and Kimball and one sister, Virginia McDowell. Our family expresses appreciation to the wonderful people at Canyon Creek Care Center and Hospice of Utah, who cared for her.
Funeral services will be Saturday, December 15th at 11:00 A.M. at Edgehill Ward, 1730 South 15th East. Friends may call prior to the services from 9:30 A.M. - 10:30 A.M. or Friday evening at Larkin Sunset Lawn 2350 East 13th South from 6:00 - 8:00 P.M. Online condolences at larkinmortuary.com.