After a 5 year battle with cancer Leroy passed away at home peacefully, leaving this world to be with his Lord and Savior on November 20, 2018.
He leaves behind his wife Pamela Duckworth of 13 years, sons Wayne Duckworth (Diana), Dennis Duckworth (Maria), and Joshua Gerbracht (Julie), 5 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren, an uncle, Eugene Duckworth, brother Lloyd Duckworth (Madaline), step-brother Bill Curnutt (Audrey), and sisters Sharon Cloos, Carol Blankenship, Judy McClure (Les), and Betty Curnutt, and a special cousin, Nancy Richards, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Leroy was preceded in death by parents Herman and Beulah Duckworth.
Leroy was born in Otter Creek near Thornfield, Missouri. At the age of 3 the family moved from Thornfield to Cowiche, Washington to enjoy the good life of picking fruit. They decided to stay in Washington and settled in Sunnyside for several years where Leroy attended Outlook and Sunnyside Elementary, eventually moving to Prosser in 1957, graduating Prosser High School in 1961. Fall of 1961 Leroy joined the Army Reserve and served for 6 years in the Yakima Unit, reaching the rank of E-7. After Leroy finished his reserve training he attended JM Perry Institute in Yakima from 1963 to 1965, graduating from the Machinist course. He then went to work for Ljutic Manufacturing where he worked for 52 years, retiring earlier this year. He was a master machinist and played a big part in the manufacturing of some of the finest competition trap shooting shotguns in the world. He took pride in his work and loved what he did and the people he worked with.
He had two especially close friends in Steve Blankinship and Harold Fitzsimmons. Steve and Leroy paired up to run the stats for hundreds of ball games at West Valley School District for 12 years. He also leaves his Saturday morning breakfast group of Christian buddies which have met for nearly 40 years.
Leroy accepted Christ at a very young age. He attended the Stone Church Assembly of God in Yakima since 1963.
His memorial service will be held Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 1:00 pm, at Stone Church, 3303 Englewood Ave., Yakima, Washington 98902. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Stone Church Assembly of God Youth Camp Scholarship Fund.
Leroy will be interred at the Prosser Cemetery next to his parents at a later date.
