Mary Bernice Fondren Duncan

Mrs. Mary Bernice Fondren Duncan, 85, of Blytheville, passed from this life Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011, in Blytheville.

Born in the Hightower Community near Blytheville to Herbert Jessie and Velma Victoria Sealy Fondren, she retired as a bookkeeper at Holiday Inn and was active in the Blytheville Business Women and attended First Baptist Church. Bernice enjoyed sewing and was an accomplished seamstress; she also loved tending her flowers, especially her rose garden. She was also an avid St. Louis Cardinal fan and watched every game.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Duncan; four brothers, Floyd Fondren, Lloyd Fondren, Jessie Fondren and Alvin Fondren; and three sisters, Mable Lunsford, Juanita Peters and Lucille Webb.

She leaves her children, Dr. Tracy Duncan and her husband, William Masterson, and Phil Long and wife, Pamela, all of Blytheville, and Gaye-Nell Massey of Jackson, Tenn.;

Two sisters, Wilma Gastineau of Florissant, Mo., and Berna Dean Dougherty of Portageville, Mo.;

Five grandchildren, Gena Riggs Lopez, Phillip E. Riggs Jr, Ginger West, Amber Wooten and Wes Long;

Eight great-grandchildren, Bradley Winter, Kristopher Lopez, Dustin Riggs, Cody Riggs, Whitten Wicker, Jett Wooten, Ovella Wooten and Jackson Long; and

Four great-great-grandchildren, Alexis Winter, Aaliyah Winter, Peyton Winter and Hayden Riggs.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m Wednesday in Cobb Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev Greg Bowers officiating. Burial will follow in Elmwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. Wednesday until time for services. An online register may be signed at cobbfuneralhome.com