Mattie Naomi Coursey Duncan completed her life on earth on Monday, Sept. 28 in Azle, Texas where she had resided since 2018.
Naomi, the third of four children, was born in Spa, near Lewisburg, on Nov. 6, 1925 to Rufus B. and Fannie E. Coursey.
She grew up on a small farm enjoying life, whether in the house learning to cook and sew from her mother, or with her father in the fields, who taught her how to care for livestock and tend to corn and tobacco. She treasured the memories of her relationships with her sisters and brother as well as relationships with her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, many of whom lived on neighboring farms.
In 1944, the year she graduated from high school, she married Marion Duncan, her high school beau, in Ft. Pierce, Fla. while he was receiving U.S. Navy amphibious training. During his time in the South Pacific, Naomi went to work for a construction firm at the U.S. government installation at Oak Ridge, Tenne. After the war, Marion and Naomi went to school at Georgetown College and Western Kentucky State College, during which time Marion began to fulfill his calling as a minister, pastoring Kentucky churches in Spa, Auburn, Russellville, Catlettsburg, and Hopkinsville.
After his death in 1983, Naomi lived in Hopkinsville where she devoted her life to serving others through the Community Soup Kitchen and as a volunteer at Jennie Stuart Hospital for several years. She was also a longtime member of First Baptist Church.
Naomi was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Marion T. Duncan; by her mother and father, Rufus and Fannie Coursey; her sisters and their husbands Jessie (Clyde) Gant and Chessie (William Jr.) Harrell; her sister-in-law, Sue Coursey; her nephews, Douglas Coursey and Mike Duncan; and her niece-in-law, Betty Gant.
She is survived by her three sons and their wives: Joseph Marion (Beverly) Duncan of Lakeside, Texas, Philip Bryant (Shelia) Duncan of Sonora; and James Kyle (Kris) Duncan of Willcox, Arizona; her grandchildren: Brett (April) Duncan of Flower Mound, Texas, Daniel (Keri) Duncan of Owensboro; Leah Duncan of Bellevue, Ky., Austin Duncan of Las Cruces, N.M. and Scott Duncan of Grovetown, Ga.; her great-grandchildren: Charlie, Mason, Anna, Jacob, and Dax; her brother, Rufus Coursey of Lewisburg; and several nieces and nephews.
Final arrangements are being provided by Price Funeral Home, Inc., Lewisburg, and services will be officiated by her sons.
The funeral service will be Sunday at the funeral home at 3 p.m. with burial to follow at Elk Lick Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from 2 p.m. until the time of the funeral.
Due to current mandates and to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, it is required that a mask be worn at all times while inside the funeral home.