Duane Clayton McCool

Graveside service will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013, at 11 a.m. at Elmwood Cemetery, 600 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Birmingham, AL 35211. The Rev. Charles Youngson, Rector of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, will officiate.

Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. today at Collier-Butler Funeral Home in Gadsden, Ala.

Collier-Butler Funeral and Cremation Services directing.

Duane served his country as a Plane Captain in the United States Navy. He was the first tennis pro at the Gadsden Country Club and was Department Head for the City of Gadsden. He taught and coached most of his life and he loved motivating young adults and inspiring them to reach their full potential. Duane never met a stranger and had many special friends. He was especially devoted to his only granddaughter, Margaret Anne.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Rosalee Mizer McCool; mother-in-law, Constance Lucia Lorino; and daughter-in-law, Sandi Thurman McCool.

He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Margaret Ann Lorino McCool; children, Dr. Alan McCool, Meredith (Hays) Latimer; granddaughter, Margaret Anne Latimer; and beloved dog, Sophie; his father, Earl McCool; brother, Clay (Teresa) McCool; sister-in-law, Donna (Timothy) Manzella; nephew, James (Candice) McCool; and nieces, Victoria Manzella, Mary Margaret Manzella, Kristen McCool and Kelly McCool.

The family would like to extend special thanks to Alacare nurse, Missy Williams, and the nurses and staff at UAB Hospital, especially Dr. Martin Heslin, Dr. James Posey and Suzanne McNeil.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to SAMC Foundation in honor of The Sandi McCool Champions of Hope, 1922 Fairview Avenue, Dothan, AL 36301, or online at www.samcfoundation.org or by phone, 334-673-4150.

Condolences may be made at www.collier-butler.com.

.

f