Mrs. Ethel Mae Duckett's Obituary
Ethel Mae Duckett born September 30, 1912 in Montgomery, Alabama, passed away August 25, 2007 in Pasadena, Texas at the age of 94 years, 10 months, and 24 days. She is preceded in death by husband of 60 years, Johnny A. Duckett, parents, Ed and Bessie Shivers, 2 brothers; Edward Ray and Ross, and 3 sisters; Thelma, Ozie and Ruby. She is survived by her three children, Johnny Wayne, Elain and Gene. Grandchildren; Christine, Claudine, Steven and Nanette, Tina and Robert, Karin and Chad, Renea and Tracy, Rachelle and Billy. Great Grandchildren; Jonathan, Jessica, Harley, Shania, Tommy, Landon, Angela, Robert, and Christina. Three sisters; Sara Mary Sue, and Lillian. She is also survived by hundreds of other family members and friends. Mrs. Duckett was born in Alabama, but at an early age her parents, "Mama and Papa" Shivers moved the family to central Texas where the last three of the seven Shivers' sisters were born, and the whole family became Texans.
Growing up on a farm in the 1920's (before the internet, before televisions, and with radio a rarity) the primary entertainment was singing, (acapella), and for the rest of their lives "The Sisters" would sing anytime they got tegether.
Ethel has fond memories of her younge life, but her two favorites were of her father "papa". The first was when she was about nine years old and Papa harnessed the two horses to the disc and turned her loose to cut up the corn stalks. She was so proud that her Papa let a little girl do grown-up work. Her second fondest memory was when she was about fourteen years old and became deathly ill with pneumonia. She was in the hospital for a week or so and they thought she was going to die. Mama Shivers had babies to care for, so she stayed home and took care fo the rest of the family, but Papa set beside Ethel's hospital bed and helped pull her through. Maybe she was Papa's pet. He certainly was hers.
During her last hour, almost five years, Ethel was well cared for in a nursing home Called Pasadena Care Center in Pasadens, Texas. If you visited her there, even though Alzheimer's had robbed her of many memories, she still remembered her father's love and trust in her and she would tell you these two stories again and again, always with a smile. Like all of her siblings save one, as soon as they grew up they left the farm. Ethel first got a job as a nanny, then as a bank teller before choosing a career as a beautician, first in Waco, Texas where she married Johnny A. Duckett, and gave birth to their three chidlren, Johnny Wayne, Elaine and Gene.
In 1949, the Duckett family moved to Brazoria, Texas where Ethel had a beauty shop, and her husband, Johnny, had a shop repairing and reupholstering furniture. The family had a good life, not rich and fancy, but loving and caring. The three children thought that married couples ever disagreed or argued until they, themselves, got married, because they never heard Ethel and Johnny argue. This was due to Ethel always being a peacekeeper. For a small woman, she had a big heart and touched the hearts and minds of hundreds. They all loved and respected her. The world will be a lesser place with her passing.
What’s your fondest memory of Ethel Mae?
What’s a lesson you learned from Ethel Mae?
Share a story where Ethel Mae's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Ethel Mae you’ll never forget.
How did Ethel Mae make you smile?