Byron Kenneth Duke

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Byron Kenneth Duke, 62, Nevada, Mo., died Monday, Jan. 2, 2012, at Kansas University Medical Center, Kansas City, Kan., as the result of a sudden illness. He was born Aug. 1, 1949, in Sikeston, Mo., to James Owen Duke and Claire Dunn Duke. He was married Sept. 26, 1971, in Pasadena, Calif., to Sharyon Taylor and she survives of the home.

Byron was born in Sikeston, Mo., and grew up in Southern California where he graduated from Imperial Schools. Byron graduated from Ambassador College in 1971 in Big Sandy, Texas, with a degree in accounting. He took graduate courses at Cal State in Los Angeles.

Byron and his wife Sharyon and children, Brandon and Sharby, moved to Missouri in 1979, residing in Blue Springs, Booneville, and Columbia, before moving to Nevada in 1986. He has served since then as chief accountant for the Nevada Habilitation Center, where he was the 2011 Employee of the Year. He was a member of the NRA and a hunting enthusiast and loved being in the woods. Byron was treasurer for Community Fellowship Church in Carterville, Mo., for more than 20 years. He worked with the youth ministry and activities for several years, sang in the choir and was worship leader. He also sang in the Nevada Community Choir. Byron was a loving husband, father, brother, and son. He will be greatly missed.

Survivors in addition to his wife Sharyon of the home, include one son, Brandon Paul Duke, Greenwood, Ind.; one daughter-in-law, Fiona Duke, Greenwood, Ind.; one daughter, Sharby Claire Duke, Bowling Green, Ky.; his parents, James and Claire Duke, East Windsor N.J.; two brothers, Russell Duke and his wife, Phyllis, Duarte, Calif., and Warren Duke, Charlestown, Va.; one sister, Kay Overstreet and her husband, Bob, East Windsor, N.J.; two nieces, Tracey Stewart and her husband, Sean, and Jennifer Overstreet; and two nephews, Christopher Duke and Michael Overstreet.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, Jan. 6, at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada with the Revs. Dan King and Jim Kissee officiating. Friends may call now and until the hour of service at the funeral home.

Contributions may be made to the Community Fellowship Church Building Fund in care of Ferry Funeral Home, 301 S. Washington, Nevada.

View obituary and send condolences on line at www.ferryfuneralhome.com