Hazel Lavonne Duncan
March 1, 1939 – January 12, 2020
Hazel Lavonne Duncan, age 80, passed away at her home in Ladonia while surrounded by family. She was born to John Richard and Opal Lee Nivens Portman in Hale Center, Texas on March 1, 1939.
Lavonne graduated from high school in Hale Center. She married Clyde Edward Duncan on November 29, 1956 and they moved to Wolfe City Tx. Clyde and Lavonne had three children to whom she was a loving and dedicated mother. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Ladonia. She also spent a lot of her time helping to keep Ladonia the town that she loved. She worked with the Ladonia Rodeo and Frontiers Day Association, was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and was on the Heritage Hall Board. Lavonne cared for her town and her neighbors.
Mrs. Lavonne, as the students called her, was a cook for Fannindel ISD for 20 years. She never let a student go hungry in her cafeteria. She truly left a legacy as her students remembered her for many years after they were no longer in school.
She is survived by her son David Duncan and wife Sherry of Quitman, son Michael (Mickey) Edward Duncan and wife Triena of Ladonia daughter Donna Mathis and husband Curtis of Kaufman, grandchildren Mikel Johnson, Brandon Johnson, Ami Duncan, Micah Duncan, Tonya Boykin, Colton Mathis and numerous great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother Don Portman and wife Sharon of Wichita Falls, and close friends Orpha Crain of California, and Janice Runnels of Ladonia.
Lavonne is preceded in death by her parents, John Richard and Opal Lee Nivens Portman and her husband, Clyde Edward Duncan.
Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00 P.M., Tuesday, January 14, 2020 at Owens Funeral Chapel. The funeral service will be conducted by Rev. Curtis Mathis at 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at First Baptist Church in Ladonia. Pallbearers will be Mikel Johnson, Brandon Johnson, Colton Mathis, Micah Duncan, Johnny Pairsh Jr, and William Boykin Jr.
David, Mickey and Donna,
Your mom was always an inspiration to me. Just from watching her I learned there was absolutely nothing a woman couldn’t do. She made me a stronger person. I will miss her.
LaDonna Wachsmann