Nancy Bosson Duell

Duell, Nancy Bosson, 96, died May 13th in Colorado Springs. Nancy was known locally as “The Quilt Lady”. For many years she sewed quilts by night and sold them by day in area farmers markets and craft shows. She also served for over 30 years as a volunteer at Memorial Hospital.

Born December 15, 1918 in Boston, Massachusetts, she graduated from Smith College in 1940. As a young woman, traveling west for her health, she met and fell in love with a dashing young rancher, Halliwell Duell. They married in Cambridge shortly after she graduated from college and traveled west to begin ranching life on the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana. Before setting out west, they exchanged the lamps and other electrical items received as wedding gifts because the ranch did not have electricity or running water. Later, they moved to a ranch in northern New Mexico. A dramatic change in direction led them to Austin, Texas in 1954. Her husband attended the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest and was ordained a priest. For fifteen years the Duells served in Security, Colorado at St. Raphael’s Episcopal Church and retired in Colorado Springs. After retirement, they were also active in Cripple Creek for thirteen years at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, the Reverend Halliwell L. Duell and by her granddaughter Amy Martin. She is survived by five children, Holland of Sheridan, Wyoming, Hal (Pam), of Alice Springs, Australia, Mary (Mary) of Denver, James (Amy) of Colorado Springs, Nancy of Colorado Springs, step-grandson Leslie Demoss of Colorado Springs, granddaughter Rachel Murane of Denver and three great-grandchildren. Services to be held at Grace and St. Stephen’s church on Tuesday, May 19th at 11:00 AM. Graveside services in Cripple Creek at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church on Wednesday, May 20th at 11:00 AM. Contributions in her name may be sent to St. Raphael’s, Grace and St. Stephen’s, or St Andrew’s (Cripple Creek) Episcopal Churches, or to Pike’s Peak Hospice.