Marie was born at home in Rattan, Oklahoma on October 20, 1923, the first daughter of Jessie and Dutch Templeton. She attended school in Rattan as much as the weather would permit, through 8th grade. She had six brothers and one sister. Her parents sent her to Eastern Oklahoma State Hospital in Vinita, OK at the age of 17 where she and her older brother, Dolphus worked and sent their money home to help her parents take care of the younger children.
She met Doyl Duncan who was also working there. They both moved to Oklahoma City working at Tinker where she was basically Rosie the Riveter. They married in 1944.
They had a daughter in 1945, and one in 1949. About 1953 they moved to Moore, Oklahoma and had another daughter in 1955. They both worked in the Assembly of God Church where they were in charge of Children’s Church and taught Sunday School Classes. They lived on Main Street in Moore until 1971 when they moved to an acreage east of Moore. Doyl died in 1973 and Marie continued to live there raising goats, guineas, dogs and chickens. She always had a big garden and many flowers. She definitely had a green thumb as she could grow anything, sharing with anyone she knew. She was also an excellent seamstress making most of her daughters cloths, then later in life she made quilts.
In 2001 she married Henry Ramsey. They traveled, and continued to live east of Moore. In 2021 as they were attempting to move, Henry fell and broke his hip. He died shortly thereafter and Marie moved back to Moore.
She fell and broke her arm in 2023 and had to move into Grace Living Center in Norman. Although she never wanted to go to a nursing home, I think she really loved watching the people there and interacting with them. They all said she was so sweet. She always had a smile for everyone there.
She is preceded in death by her husband Doyl Duncan and husband Henry Ramsey, her parents Jessie and Dutch, her six brothers Dolphus, Junior, Jimmy, Lonnie, Bob, and Charlie, and her sister Helen Gene. Her oldest daughter Doylene died as a result of a car accident in 2007.
She is survived by two daughters, Pam Stahlman and husband Roy, and Marilyn Miller and husband Carl. Five grandchildren Jennifer Bunch and husband Chad, Madison Miller and wife Cherie, Brad Stahlman and wife Mary, Darren Miller and Kat, Michael Stahlman and wife Yvonne. Thirteen great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
