Iva Lee Duckworth, 98

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Iva Lee (Symes) Duckworth, 98, of Mulberry Grove, died on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, surrounded by her daughters at Carle Clinic in Champaign.

Visitation will be held Thursday, Feb. 17, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Bethel Baptist Church in Vandalia. funeral services will follow, beginning at 11 a.m. at the church with Dr. Ben Foxworth officiating. Burial will be held at Taylor Cemetery in Vandalia. Military rites will be conducted by Mulberry Grove American Legion Post #1180.

Mrs. Duckworth was born Nov. 3, 1923, in Wright City, MO, to Louis and Emma Symes. She married Marion “Goose” Duckworth on Aug. 28, 1943, in St. Louis, MO, and he preceded her in death.

She graduated in 1941 from Wright City High School, where she played women’s basketball and ran track. Upon graduation, she went to work for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Ferguson, MO, where she met her husband.

Shortly after their wedding, her husband was drafted and she enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where she served as a Seaman First Class from September 1944 to October 1945. Stationed in New York City, she served as a switchboard and elevator operator and did general clerical work.

After World War II, Mrs. Duckworth and her husband moved from St. Charles, MO to Mulberry Grove, where she became a stay-at-home mother to her four daughters, teaching them to cook, can and sew, all while making the girls’ clothes and taking care of the house. She went back to work once the girls were older, spending her time at Illinois Bell, Johnson’s Market and finally Crane’s Packing, from 1971 to 1985.

Following her retirement, she was an active member of the Pleasant Mount Area Women’s Quilting Circle for many years. Her family has many beautiful quilts and crocheted afghans to remember her by as her work was impeccable. She was a devoted member of the United Methodist Church in Pleasant Mount, where she served as a Sunday school teacher for many years. She was the treasurer for the United Methodist Women.

Mrs. Duckworth enjoyed watching all her grandchildren’s activities, including football, baseball, basketball, plays and cheerleading events. Her eyes would light up when her great-grandchildren were around, and they all loved spending time with their “Gi Gi.” 

As a WWII veteran, she attended an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. with her granddaughter Jamie and daughter Ann, who served as her guardians. Thanks to tremendous help from Ann, she was able to live alone on the Duckworth Family Farm in rural Mulberry Grove until her death. She always loved her Sunday afternoon rides to Dairy Queen and completing as many challenging puzzles as possible.

Mrs. Duckworth will be missed, but her family is thankful for her long and wonderful life filled with so many memories of their loving mom, grandma and great-grandma.

She is survived by her daughters, Jo Layne (Robert) Woodward of Troy, Vicky (Dale) Huber of Hillsboro and Brenda (Layne) Mayfield of Vandalia; granddaughter, Jamie (Derek) Ward of Cottleville, MO; grandsons, Robert (Lisa) Woodward of Edwardsville and Marion Mayfield of Champaign; and beloved great-grandsons, Robert “Bo” Woodward and Taggart and Kip Ward.

In addition to her husband, Mrs. Duckworth was preceded in death by her parents; and daughters, Mary Ann Dugan, who passed away just hours before her, and Phyliss Duckworth.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Taylor Cemetery Maintenance Fund.

Online condolences to the family may be left at www.millerfh.net.