Ava Jean Duncan, 89, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016, of natural causes at the Brendan House in Kalispell.
Ava was born in Great Falls on Aug. 31, 1926, to Thomas and Jennie (Coup) Sutton. Ava completed high school at Lonepine, graduated valedictorian and went to a telegrapher school.
She started working as a telegrapher upon graduating from high school. Ava worked in retail at JCPenney’s and at the Buttrey’s Food Store.
Ava spent her time involved in a lot of community activities. She helped at the Meals on Wheels program for 26 years, and at the Flouride Swish Program at Evergreen Schools for eight years, and she also sold raffle tickets for Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) at the fairgrounds. Because of her years of work, Ava received a Senior Volunteer of the Year award from the governor.
In her free time Ava loved to go fishing and camping with her husband Maynard and all other relatives. She loved growing her tomatoes, feeding the birds and ducks, knitting, crocheting, huckleberry picking, and enjoyed making huckleberry desserts and jams.
Ava was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Maynard, and her son Daron Duncan.
Ava is survived by daughters, Linda Kinamon of Kalispell, and Kathy and Rob Schochow of Minneapolis; her grandchildren, Christina and Chris Greazel, Matthew and Andrea Schochow, Tanner and Megan Duncan, Daniel Duncan, Terry and Rachel Kinamon, and Candice Kinamon; 12 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held for Ava at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home, with a reception to follow.
The family requests memorial contributions be made to St. Jude Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN, 38105; or Wounded Warrior Project.
Friends are encouraged to visit the website, www.buffalohillfh.com , to leave notes of condolence for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.