Shirley May (Haynes) Durkee

   The Lord called Shirley May Durkee home to reunite with her beloved husband, Duane on the evening of December 7, 2024. She passed at Keystone Pointe in LaGrange from complications of multiple myeloma. Her family was by her side. Those who knew her, knew she fought the good fight and was courageous until the end.

     She was born in Cleveland, Ohio on May 14, 1937 to William and Dorothy (Schroeder) Haynes. They moved to the Haynes family farm in Eaton Township when she was young where she raised goats and collected eggs with her beloved grandfather.

     She married her high school sweetheart and love of her life, Duane C. Durkee and together they built a home on Duane’s generational family farm where she raised a daughter and two sons, instilling in them the love of God, family, nature and animals.

     She loved to tend her flower and vegetable gardens and walk in the woods and fields of the farm she loved. She had an amazing green thumb, and her daughter would often remark if her mother stuck a dead branch in the ground it would sprout.

     Among her many gifts, she was an accomplished oil paint artist and classical piano player. But mostly she was known for her kind heart, gentle ways, generosity and positive attitude, saying in times of trouble, “this too shall pass.”

     Left to grieve her passing are her loving daughter Renee (Roger) Atkinson, sons Derek and Kurt Durkee, sister Judy (Ray) Poll, many wonderful cousins, nephews, nieces and her beloved pets.

     Preceding her in death are husband, Duane, brothers William and Ronald Haynes and parents William and Dorothy Haynes.

   Visitation will be Thursday, December 12, 2024 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. in the Duke Funeral Home 1021 Main St. Grafton where funeral services will be Friday, December 13, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. with burial following at Butternut Ridge Cemetery.

     Donations in her name may be made out to her two favorite charities: St. Joseph Indian School, P.O. Box 100, Chamberlain, South Dakota 57325 (online at stjo.org under Memorials) and St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 (online at stjude.org/donate).

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