Frances Harnage Duck

Duck, Frances Harnage – Frances Duck (Mother Goose), 86, of Jacksonville, Florida, passed away May 6, 2010 at Northeast Florida Community Hospice Hadlow Center, after a short but valiant struggle with Ovarian cancer.

Frances was born June 6, 1923 in Atlanta, Georgia and moved to Jacksonville as a young child. She graduated from Andrew Jackson High School in 1941 and married Larry Duck in 1943. Frances and Larry celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary shortly before his death in 2008.

Until her disability retirement, she worked as a school secretary for nearly 20 years at Mattie V. Rutherford Elementary and at Love Grove Elementary Schools, where she was dearly loved by all.

She was an avid square dancer for many years and traveled the Tennessee/North Carolina area extensively to learn the history and folklore of the Cherokee Indians. She particularly loved the Roan Mountain area and made many good friends along the way.

Frances never met a stranger, and was loved by all who met her. She was the best Mother, Friend, and Confidante ever, and will be greatly missed. May God Bless and keep you, Mama Mia.

Frances is survived by her daughter, Rebecca Duck, her grandson James Topham, Jr. (Regina), and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Larry Duck and her beloved son Larry Bruce Duck, as well as sisters Betty, Myrtle, and Ethel, and brothers Virgil and John.

A memorial service will be held at Taylor Residences on Saturday May 15, 2010, at 1:00pm. Memorial gifts may be donated to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, Earl Hadlow Center, 4266 Sunbeam Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32257.