Lemley Chapel
Serving Sedro-Woolley &
All of Skagit County Since 1935
1008 Third Street
Sedro-Woolley, WA
360-855-1288
www.LemleyChapel.com
Russ Duckworth Memorial
Russ Duckworth Memorial

Russ Duckworth

Russ Duckworth

Monday, July 19th, 2010

James Russell “Russ” Duckworth

Russ passed away July 19, 2010 at home, following a courageous two-and-a-half year battle with pancreatic cancer.  Russ was born December 20, 1954 in Walla Walla, WA to Ronald and JoAn (White) Duckworth.  The family was transferred to the tri-city area in 1954, and to Skagit County in 1956.

Russ attended Burlington-Edison schools, graduating in 1973.  He graduated from Washington State University in 1980 with a degree in agronomy.

Russ was very active in sports, playing football for Burlington-Edison all four years of high school.  In 1971, they won the state championship.  He also played on the Washington State Roller Hockey team, which won the national roller hockey championship in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1969.  In high school, he was an excellent golfer and also enjoyed skiing the slopes during the winter.  Later, he played regional football, raced hydroplanes and coached youth soccer teams.  But more than anything, Russ loved to fish and looked forward to his annual trip to Alaska with his fishing buddies.  You could find them every Saturday morning, having breakfast and discussing “the one that got away”.

On January 24, 1987, Russ married the love of his life, Linda June.  Linda’s son, Troy, was joined in 1989 by brother Ronald Ian, and sister Caitlin June in 1992.

Russ worked as an agronomist for over 25 years, first at Agrichem, and for the last 20 years at Wilbur Ellis in Burlington.  He received his 20-year watch in November of 2009.  He loved his job and the people he worked with.  Russ never met anyone who wasn’t a friend.

Russ was preceded in death by his father, Ron, his uncle Roger and grandparents, Vernon and Dorothy Duckworth.  He is survived by his wife Linda; children, Ian and Caitlin at home and Troy of Mt. Vernon; his mother, JoAn Duckworth of Burlington; sister, Rhonda Duckworth of Seattle.  He is also survived by his aunt and uncle, Bob and Ann Baker and their family, of Bellevue; mother-in-law, Shirley Murphy of Colville; grandmother-in-law, Norma Taylor of Moses Lake, and brother and sister-in-law, Brett Sutton and Desiree Nielsen.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 24th at Bethel Assembly of God in Sedro Woolley, officiated by Pastor David Ristow.  A reception will follow at the church.

Friends have established a college trust fund in the name of Ian and Caitlin Duckworth at People’s Bank, Riverside Branch in Mt. Vernon, WA.

Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley.

Guestbook

  • Pedro Granados

    I met Russ while we attended WSU as Agronomy students in the late 80´s. Being a foreign transfer student from Yakima Valley College, he was one of the first classmates I knew at college. I always remembered his smile and willingness to help. After all these years, I wanted to get in touch with him and I found out that he passed away in 2010. I feel sad but at the same time appreciated I found the space to express how grateful I felt to know him at that time. Being a young foreign student from Venezuela to find a helping hand and friendship from Russ was and will be always remembered as gesture of God Blessed Spirit and generosity. Hey man, You will be in my prayers ! God Blessed you wherever you are ! Your Venezuelan classmate. Pedro Granados (pigranadosve@yahoo.es – mobile nos.: 00584262188685 – 00584141078448)

  • Sharon (Jongsma ) Morris

    Have been doing some searching for you and came across this on your husband. So sorry about your loss! Would love to hear from you! I have my e-mail address or Facebook, my number 541-206-9579 Hope all is going well for you and your family !

  • Nancy Broman

    Linda,
    Steve’s sister Gail let me know about Russ’s passing. It hurt to hear that he had lost his battle with cancer. I attended your wedding, and remember it with great tenderness and joy.
    Please accept my sincere condolence. May you continue to be surrounded by loving friends and family. My encouragement to you, is to just take this healing process one day at a time.

    With love & prayers
    Nancy

  • Bonnie Parker

    My heart goes out to the family to lose a husband & father so young. These are things we don’t understand losing a loved one so young. You have been in our thoughts & prayers. God be with you. We live in Chewelah, Wa.

  • Alan and Rose Merritt

    Linda, since work will not allow us to attend Russ’s ceremony, we want you to know that we are thinking of you at this sad time. We will certainly miss Russ from Wilbur Ellis and at Bible Study as well as everyday life. We admire his faith and know he is at peace. We were very happy to hear him say that at Bible Study one day.
    We wish you and your family God’s blessing and strength at this time.

  • Dave Parsons

    I would like all the Duckworth family to know what a positive impact Russ had on everyone he came into contact with. It seems like yesterday as I vividly remember his smile and energy the first time I met Russ in the fall of 1976 during rush week at WSU and how excited he seemed about everything. I am proud to call Russ my fraternity “Big Bro” and I smile every time I think of Russ and all the memories.

    I usually chatted with Russ a couple times a year and it was always fun to hear him say (almost everytime), “Gosh D, I have such a great life and I am so proud of my wife and 3 kids.” I am thankful to Steve Z. for letting me know that Russ was in the hospital, which enabled me to chat a couple additional times with him; and yes he only wanted to tell me about his love for “the wife and kids” and to tell me he was at peace with whatever the future had in store for him. Russ will be missed by us all, but he will never be forgotten.

  • Diane Bobko

    Linda, Ian, Caitlin & Troy —
    John and I were shocked and saddened to hear of Russ’ passing, hearing about it just this afternoon. We will always have fond memories from our years at Bethel with you both. John remembers roaming the halls at Bethel when Ian and Brian were a bit unsettled (and too young for Sunday School), trying to keep kids quiet. He even remembers an occasional sneaking off for coffee! Russ had a great heart and a warm laugh. My last memory of him is sitting in the bleachers at BEHS visiting with him last year – he was positive and upbeat about his plan to beat this disease… and he was so proud of his kids! We will be praying for you! With love – the Bobko Family

  • Jeff Rea

    I was saddened to hear of Russ’s passing but happy that I was able to see him recently while he was a Virginia Mason. I was encouraged by his strength and his sense of peace and touched by the time we spent together.

    As one of his fraternity brothers from Phi Sigma Kappa at WSU, I have great memories of times with Russ in the house and in the intervening years. He was a blessing to those who knew him and I am thankful to have been able to call him a friend.

    Blessings to the Duckworth family and my heartfelt prayers for all of you as you adjust to this loss. Russ will be missed not only by you but by all of those whose lives he touched.

    With fond memories,
    Jeff Rea

  • Jeri Hubbard

    Rhonda, I am sorry for the loss of Russ so early in life. Jeri (DeMarco) Hubbard