Donna Rae Duckworth, 84-years-old, died peacefully in her sleep on February 13, 2023, in North Richland Hills, Texas. Donna was born July 18, 1938, in Graham, Oklahoma, to Raymond Stonewall “Shorty” Kilcrease and Elva O’Neta “Nita” Kilcrease. Raymond worked for many years at the Gulf Petroleum gas plant near Maysville, Oklahoma, and Nita was a homemaker to Donna and her two siblings, Danny Ray Kilcrease (deceased) and Diane Kilcrease Ridener. As a child, Donna was surrounded by her loving and extended family in southern Oklahoma including grandparents, aunts and uncles, many cousins (including her favorite cousin, Joann) and was dearly loved by all. Donna was primarily raised in Maysville, Oklahoma, where she graduated from high school in 1956. While in high school, Donna was an active participant in the band, the student council, and served as the band queen, a beauty queen, and a carnival queen in Garvin County, Oklahoma.
After graduation from high school, Donna and her family moved to the small refinery town of Phillips, Texas, in the Texas Panhandle, where she and her family were members of the First Baptist Church in Borger, Texas. A few years later, the family relocated to Fritch, Texas, where Donna then started pursuing her college degree.
After receiving her undergraduate degree in education from West Texas State University, Donna initially taught music, but then taught elementary school for many years in the Sanford-Fritch ISD. Several years after obtaining her master’s degree in education and principal’s certification, Donna and her husband, James Duckworth, relocated to North Richland Hills, Texas, where she also taught elementary school until her retirement from the Birdville ISD. Donna’s love of teaching is reflected by her longevity (26 years) in teaching “the littles.”
Donna was funny, feisty and passionate about all she pursued. After her marriage to James on March 13, 1987, (Friday the 13th turned out to be “lucky 13” for she and James), she and James became active travelers, oftentimes taking long trips on James’ Goldwing motorcycle. She and James also loved to square dance and stayed active for many years with their regular participation in square dances. After her retirement from teaching, Donna began to pursue what became her most passionate hobby: Genealogy. She was a consummate researcher, spending weeks and weeks in county courthouses and cemeteries across the United States carefully documenting the family line of her parents while James assisted as the official photographer. Donna ended up writing two books about her family tree, both of which have been registered with the library of Congress.
Donna’s surviving family members are many, but include her husband of 35 years, James Calvin Duckworth; two children and their spouses, Steve and wife, Lisa, and David and wife, Debi; sister, Diane Kilcrease Ridener; three grandchildren, Lee Evan Henry and wife, Mary, Sara Kristen Henry, and Dale Beckham “Beck” Henry; and one great-grandchild, Archer Stanley Henry.
The family will have a private internment ceremony at the family ranch in Bosque County, Texas.
