Margaret Anne Duncan
June 25, 1929 — June 8, 2024
Margaret (Peg) Duncan 6/25/29-6/8/24
Margaret (Peg) Anne Officer Duncan, born June 25th, 1929 in Creston, Iowa to Ethelyn
Margaret Dickens and Wallace Burwell Officer, died peacefully in Jacksonville, Florida on
Saturday, June 8th. She lived a full life centered on her love of family, community, and faith.
She cherished her upbringing in rural Iowa with two older brothers, Wallace Burwell Jr. and
Charles Dickens, and a younger sister, Mary Catherine. Her favorite childhood memories
included visits to her maternal family home in Diagonal and working at the soda fountain at Lee
Pratt's Drug Store in Burt, where she developed a life-long appreciation for a well-made
milkshake. Her family valued public education and community involvement. During her high
school years, she loved playing on her school's basketball team and enjoyed music and singing,
learning a repertoire of songs that would delight and uplift her family for the rest of her life.
Peg's decision to become an educator was influenced by her father and her maternal aunt Vera
Dickens, who both enjoyed successful careers as school superintendents in Iowa.
Following her graduation from Burt High School, Peg attended Simpson College in Indianola,
Iowa, where she joined Pi Beta Phi sorority. In 1952, with a Bachelor of Arts in Education in
hand, she embarked on a series of adventures that began when she and a classmate accepted
teaching positions in Seattle, Washington. She would spend 6 years teaching 5th grade at
Seward Demonstration School and Wedgewood Elementary. It was during that time that Peg
took time off from teaching to tour post-war Europe via the Queen Mary. She delighted in the
beauty of the ship and claimed that at one point she successfully passed as a first class
passenger to visit its swimming pool. Years later, Peg encouraged her teenage daughters to
travel, hosted many exchange students, and returned to Europe accompanied by her family.
While in Seattle, Peg shared an upstairs apartment with other teachers in a house where the
downstairs apartment was occupied by another group of friends, including Thomas Owen
Duncan, a fishery biologist working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They were married
July 5, 1956 at the First United Methodist Church in West Bend, Iowa. Tom's work took them to
Washington D.C. and Fayetteville, Arkansas before they settled in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, the
place they called home for more than 40 years.
Peg returned to teaching in Arkadelphia, where as a first grade teacher at Louisa E.Perritt
Primary School she was instrumental in creating a beloved school garden and butterfly
program. She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church, Ruth Circle, Delta
Kappa Gamma, Clark County Women's Library Association, Colerain Club and Daughters of the
American Revolution. With Tom, she volunteered for the Arkadelphia Chamber of Commerce
and served on the Board of Directors of Group Living, Inc.
Peg delighted in sharing her love of home and cooking. She happily gave away her best
recipes and curated a large collection. A favorite was her yeast rolls, which she said she could
"make in her sleep" because of the countless times she made them for family, friends, and bake
sales. Her home was a sanctuary for those who needed encouragement and for animals that
needed a home. Her daughters will remember her as supporting, loving, and adventurous. She
faced life's challenges with optimism and fearlessness. She and Tom made the difficult decision
to leave Arkadelphia in 2017 to be nearer to their daughters, but always considered it to be
home. Her remains will be returned to Arkadelphia to be buried with her husband at Unity
Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. August 2, 2024 at the First United
Methodist Church in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
Peg leaves her daughters, Susan Daniell (Douglas), Catherine Duncan (Darryl Wise), Sarah
Riley (Kevin), and Nancy Duncan (Kathy Hurley); and grandsons Owen Daniell, Guinness Riley
and Finn Riley. Her family wishes to acknowledge the excellent care she received at the end of
her life by the compassionate staff of the Mayo Clinic and McGraw Community Hospice center
in Jacksonville, Florida. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church of
Arkadelphia, Arkansas or Group Living, Inc.
Margaret (Peg) Anne Officer Duncan, born June 25th, 1929 in Creston, Iowa to Ethelyn
Margaret Dickens and Wallace Burwell Officer, died peacefully in Jacksonville, Florida on
Saturday, June 8th. She lived a full life centered on her love of family, community, and faith.
She cherished her upbringing in rural Iowa with two older brothers, Wallace Burwell Jr. and
Charles Dickens, and a younger sister, Mary Catherine. Her favorite childhood memories
included visits to her maternal family home in Diagonal and working at the soda fountain at Lee
Pratt's Drug Store in Burt, where she developed a life-long appreciation for a well-made
milkshake. Her family valued public education and community involvement. During her high
school years, she loved playing on her school's basketball team and enjoyed music and singing,
learning a repertoire of songs that would delight and uplift her family for the rest of her life.
Peg's decision to become an educator was influenced by her father and her maternal aunt Vera
Dickens, who both enjoyed successful careers as school superintendents in Iowa.
Following her graduation from Burt High School, Peg attended Simpson College in Indianola,
Iowa, where she joined Pi Beta Phi sorority. In 1952, with a Bachelor of Arts in Education in
hand, she embarked on a series of adventures that began when she and a classmate accepted
teaching positions in Seattle, Washington. She would spend 6 years teaching 5th grade at
Seward Demonstration School and Wedgewood Elementary. It was during that time that Peg
took time off from teaching to tour post-war Europe via the Queen Mary. She delighted in the
beauty of the ship and claimed that at one point she successfully passed as a first class
passenger to visit its swimming pool. Years later, Peg encouraged her teenage daughters to
travel, hosted many exchange students, and returned to Europe accompanied by her family.
While in Seattle, Peg shared an upstairs apartment with other teachers in a house where the
downstairs apartment was occupied by another group of friends, including Thomas Owen
Duncan, a fishery biologist working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They were married
July 5, 1956 at the First United Methodist Church in West Bend, Iowa. Tom's work took them to
Washington D.C. and Fayetteville, Arkansas before they settled in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, the
place they called home for more than 40 years.
Peg returned to teaching in Arkadelphia, where as a first grade teacher at Louisa E.Perritt
Primary School she was instrumental in creating a beloved school garden and butterfly
program. She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church, Ruth Circle, Delta
Kappa Gamma, Clark County Women's Library Association, Colerain Club and Daughters of the
American Revolution. With Tom, she volunteered for the Arkadelphia Chamber of Commerce
and served on the Board of Directors of Group Living, Inc.
Peg delighted in sharing her love of home and cooking. She happily gave away her best
recipes and curated a large collection. A favorite was her yeast rolls, which she said she could
"make in her sleep" because of the countless times she made them for family, friends, and bake
sales. Her home was a sanctuary for those who needed encouragement and for animals that
needed a home. Her daughters will remember her as supporting, loving, and adventurous. She
faced life's challenges with optimism and fearlessness. She and Tom made the difficult decision
to leave Arkadelphia in 2017 to be nearer to their daughters, but always considered it to be
home. Her remains will be returned to Arkadelphia to be buried with her husband at Unity
Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. August 2, 2024 at the First United
Methodist Church in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
Peg leaves her daughters, Susan Daniell (Douglas), Catherine Duncan (Darryl Wise), Sarah
Riley (Kevin), and Nancy Duncan (Kathy Hurley); and grandsons Owen Daniell, Guinness Riley
and Finn Riley. Her family wishes to acknowledge the excellent care she received at the end of
her life by the compassionate staff of the Mayo Clinic and McGraw Community Hospice center
in Jacksonville, Florida. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church of
Arkadelphia, Arkansas or Group Living, Inc.
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