James “Jim” Frederick Duke Obituary

James “Jim” Frederick Duke

San Angelo – James Frederick (Jim) Duke, beloved husband, father, brother, uncle and friend passed away peacefully after a gallant battle against esophageal cancer on February 1, 2022 in San Angelo, Texas surrounded by family and friends at the age of 65.

Born in Austin on the 15th of November 1956, to Bob and Virginia Duke, Jim was the youngest of the three Duke children. After spending a few years in Houston the Duke’s returned to Austin and Jim spent his formative years on Hillbrook Circle keeping the neighborhood entertained with his antics. Bob and Virginia may have even received a call or two after Jim fired a “toy cannon” annually on Thomas Jefferson’s birthday celebration. Jim’s love of life and desire to live life to the fullest started at an early age!

Jim developed a love for the outdoors on the family ranch in Johnson City where he spent many weekends with his grandparents, Pops & Honey. This is where he also first developed his lifelong interest in gardening.

He attended Murchison Junior High and graduated from Anderson High School in Austin in 1976 where he lettered in football. Jim had lifelong friends from Murchison and Anderson, and loved getting together with his old friends whenever possible, especially at the Murchison Breakfasts at the Dart Bowl. Many made the trip to San Angelo in the past few months and he cherished those visits.

After graduation Jim attended Southwest Texas State and later the University of Texas at Austin. After college Jim began a long and lustrous career in the office of the State of Texas’ Comptroller of Public Accounts where he assisted many a Texas taxpayer on a myriad of issues. After retiring from the state he successfully started a Texas severance tax consulting business that he operated until his death.

Jim was an avid outdoorsman and some of his fondest memories were spent on his lease in Menard with family and friends as well as those spent bass fishing with his son, Wes, on numerous Texas lakes. He and Wes also ventured to East Texas to participate in gator hunts, and Jim had the boots to prove it (not to mention an eight foot gator that at one time hung on his living room wall)!

In his younger days Jim would also make a trek to East Texas for a few sacks of “mud bugs” for his annual crawfish boil. Those annual boils were a fixture in Hyde Park for a number of years and were much enjoyed by all those in attendance.

Jim was also an enthusiastic baseball fan and spent many a summer on the diamond coaching Wes’ teams. Jim also enjoyed taking Wes and his daughter, Ashley, on summer vacation to “Port A” and meeting up with Barbara’s family and letting the kids get to know their cousins. Jim was a good family man and loved holidays and vacations spent with family.

Jim was blessed to meet and marry Tracey Rink Ferguson later in life. They were wed on May 23, 2015, at a lovely outdoor service in Kingsland. Jim’s spirit shone brightest in this wonderful relationship. After marriage they lived in San Angelo where Jim became a loyal member and served on the vestry as Treasurer of Emmanuel Episcopal Church. Jim and Tracey loved to travel and especially enjoyed their time spent on river cruises in Europe and fly fishing on the San Juan River. They also enjoying cooking together and their kitchen creations were something to behold. Jim also had one of the best tended gardens in San Angelo where many neighbors enjoyed his bounty.

He is preceded in death by parents Robert and Virginia Duke, and brother, Robert, Jr. Jim is survived by wife, Tracey; son Wesley James Duke of Austin; daughter Ashley Nicole Duke of Austin; stepson William Randolph Ferguson of San Angelo; sister and brother-in-law Barbara Duke Stryker and husband, Michael, of Bellaire, TX and his beloved nieces and their families.

A funeral service will be at 11:00 am Monday, February 7 at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 3 South Randolph, in San Angelo with a reception to follow at Riverview Restaurant, 880 W Ave D. A celebration of Jim’s life will also be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, February 12 at the K-Oaks Clubhouse, 7000 Bar-K Ranch Road, Lago Vista, TX. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Jim’s life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Emmanuel Episcopal Church. Family and friends may share online condolences at www.harper-funeralhome.com