Margaret Duke entered heaven on Monday February 19, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. Margaret and her twin sister Margie were born March 21, 1926, in Flora, Illinois to John Henry and Bertie Hord Mitchell.
Margaret was a graduate of Flora High School. She married Ellsworth Duke on December 11, 1944, in Henderson, Kentucky, before he entered World War II. Margaret and Ellsworth were reunited after the end of World War II and made their first home in Cisne, IL. During this time, Margaret had three children, Mike, Pat, and Jill.
In the 1960s, Margaret became a business owner. She and her sisters Bonnie and Maye successfully ran several women’s stores in Flora, Olney, Cisne, and Ramsey. Following her sisters’ retirement, she established Margaret’s Bridal in Olney.
When she retired from her bridal business, she enjoyed many years of snow birding in Bonita Springs, Fla. In order to spend more time with her grandson Patrick, she and Ellsworth moved back to Flora where she made many wonderful friends.
Margaret had a passion for dancing, playing cards, hosting yard sales, gathering her family, spending time with her grandchildren and serving others. She had many friends and was well loved by many people.
Margaret was preceded in death by her loving husband, her sons Mike and Pat, her grandson Clint, her mother and father, sisters Bonnie Wieldt, Maye Hemphill, Virginia Willis, and brothers Robert and Harold Mitchell.
She is survived by her twin sister Margie Yingst of Flora, her daughter Jill (Jerry) Harrell of Olney, daughter-in-law Glenda Duke of Flora, and daughter in-law Nikki Duke of Fort Worth, Tex. She is also survived by 7
grandchildren: Cole (Kristen) Duke of Flora, Rebecca (James) Bishir of Kokomo, Ind., Meghan (Cameron) Cushman of Fort Worth, Tex., Collin (Kaci) Duke of Santa Monica, Calif., Patrick Duke of Denton, Tex., Tyler (Callie) Harrell of Westfield, Ind., and Kellie (Travis) Arnold of Alexandria, Ky. Margaret is further survived by 13 great-grandchildren of whom she was very proud.
A funeral ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora. Interment will follow in Cisne Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. on Saturday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to First Christian Church Youth Fund or Fur a Good Paws, and these will be accepted through the funeral home. To share a condolence or memory, visit: www.frankandbright.com
