Barbara Duncan

Barbara Jo Taylor Duncan, 81, of Panhandle went to be with her Savior on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, in Amarillo.

A celebration of her life will be held on at 3 p.m. , Friday, Jan. 8, in Panhandle Cemetery, where all are welcome to come say goodbye to our beloved wife, mother and Grandma Jo. Burial is under the direction of Minton Chatwell Funeral Directors of Panhandle.

The family will receive visitors at Minton Chatwell Funeral Home in Panhandle on Thursday, Jan. 7, from 5 to 7 p.m.

Barbara was born on March 27, 1939 in Matador, Texas to Opal Bradley and Richard Taylor. She graduated as Valedictorian of her high school class in Quitaque. She attended college at West Texas State College where she received her Master’s Degree in Physical Education. While in college, she met the love of her life, Dan Duncan, whom she married on Aug. 15, 1959 in the Methodist Church in Quitaque.

After moving to Panhandle in 1964, Barbara quickly became active in the Panhandle Independent School District, where she impacted the lives of many students. During her 30 plus years at Panhandle, she was a coach, P.E. teacher, cheerleading sponsor and reading teacher to name a few. Two of her accomplishments during her tenure include starting the Panhandle Girls Track Program with Ann Metcalf along, with writing the Panhandle School Fight Song with Janie Beddingfield Olgetree Plumlee After retirement, Barbara continued to substitute teach for Panhandle as teaching was her true passion.

Barbara’s most prized title was “Grandma Jo.” She spent many hours traveling the state of Texas to watch her grandchildren play in various sporting activities. She loved supporting the Panhandle Panthers and Pantherettes, even after her grandkids had graduated. When not cheering on the Panthers, she was driving south to watch her younger grandkids play their various sports in South Texas.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Surviving is her husband, Dan Duncan Sr. of the home; son, Dan Ray Duncan Jr. and wife Sharon of White Deer; daughter, Darcee and husband Scooter Vaclavick of El Campo, Texas; brother, James Taylor of Littleton, Colo; six grandchildren, Tobi Ann and husband Adam Stuart, Samantha and husband Brandon Disney-Harper, Daniel Duncan and wife Tiffany, Taylor Vaclavick, Trayton Vaclavick and Shaylee Vaclavick; and seven great-grandchildren.