Mary Adelaide Duncan

MARY ADELAIDE DUNCAN
Sun City, Arizona
January 4, 1930– April 10, 2026
Mary, daughter of John and Sarah Ramsay, is survived by her husband Ronald and her children John and Glenda, Chuck and Marilyn, Ronny and Janice and Robert, her seven grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren, a prodigious family of which she was immensely proud.
Mary was born in a logging camp in Phoenix, Alberta, Canada and in 1963 moved with her family to Phoenix Arizona. Mary worked as a Nurse’s Aid before obtaining her degree and adding the stripes to her cap, indicating that she was now an RN, something that she pursued with her usual determination. In 1970 she began working at the Page Hospital, later becoming Head Nurse, a position she held for many years before moving to Sun City, AZ. After retiring from nursing Mary became a volunteer Red Cross nurse attending fires, tornadoes, hurricanes and other disasters that required her medical experience and characteristic compassion. Immediately after the attacks on the Twin Towers on 911 she was on the first available flight to New York, doing so while thousands were fleeing the stricken city, making her one of the many heroes of that horrible attack. She served two tours there, helping those directly affected by that treacherous event. She commented once that the level of human suffering she witnessed during that time had changed her forever. After retiring from the Red Cross Mary and Ron moved to Ruidoso, New Mexico where Mary quickly found herself immersed in the vibrant social and artist culture. She had a true talent and passion for painting and became prolific once she retired, producing several amazing oils and watercolors, many of the Lake Powel area (Her favorite subject). She was generous of life and spirit and was considered everyone’s grandma as well as the life of the party. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her. The world is a little more empty today. A celebration of life will take place on May 16th from noon to four at 9521 W Appaloosa Dr., Sun City, Arizona.