Mary Lumsden Duckett

Mary was the mother of one daughter, the late Terese Alayne Duckett White, and grandmother of Angel, Alicia, and Zoe. She was great-grandmother of ten. Mary was born in Champain-Urbanna, Illinois on July 5, 1937 in the middle of the Depression when the U.S. was heading into WWII. Her parents were both school teachers who became instructors to airmen; first at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi and then Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Mary graduated valedictorian from the Academy of Mary Immaculate in Wichita Falls, Texas. She then enrolled at Loyola University in New Orleans and attended there for two years. She completed her studies and graduated from Midwestern in Wichita Falls, TX with a B.A. degree.

Mary was married to Ray Edwin Duckett for two years, but divorced following the birth of her daughter Alayne. Mary was known as a fiercely independent woman who was very proud that she could purchase her own home and cars without help. She never remarried.

Mary worked at 'inside sales' for 20 years with Curtis H. Stout Inc., well known as a manufacturer representative in LA. Upon retiring, Mary began raising and selling exotic birds, rabbits, and dogs which she loved. She also volunteered at Longue View House as a garden worker for over 20 years.

Mary was an active parishioner at St. Philip Neri Church in Metairie where she was an original member of the choir and sang as an alto for 50 years.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Catholic Mass in the chapel of Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd in New Orleans, on Tuesday, September 10, 2024 at 12 PM. Visitation will begin at 10 AM. After the chapel service, Mary will be laid to rest in All Saints Mausoleum.