Geraldine Duncan

Geraldine “Jerry” Preston Duncan, age 105 of Gatesville, passed away Friday, November 21, 2025.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 25, 2025 at Scott’s Funeral Home with Charles Ament officiating. Burial will follow at Pidcoke Cemetery. The family will receive visitors one hour prior to services at the funeral home.

Geraldine was born September 8, 1920 to the late Edgar and Elve Watson Preston. She was raised in the Sweet Home Community and graduated from Pearl High School where she excelled as a star basketball player. She attended North Texas Teacher’s College and later graduated from San Marcos Teacher’s College.

Geraldine began her teaching career in 1942 at Robert Lee ISD and then spent a year at Lampasas ISD. In 1944, she was recruited to Gatesville, where she coached the girls’ basketball team, taught Texas Geography, and later served as the junior high PE teacher, a role she fulfilled with dedication before retiring in 1977.

On November 24, 1948, she married Cloyce Duncan and became a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Gatesville. She was an avid bridge player, enjoyed crossword puzzles, and loved reading and traveling. To her family she was known as Geraldine; to her friends, she was known as Jerry.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Cloyce; her parents; brothers Doyle Preston and wife, Oleta, Dawson Preston and wife, Bessie Earl, and Horace Preston; sister Yvonne Preston; nephews Prentice and Eddie Preston; and son-in-law Earl Cooper.

Geraldine is survived by her daughters, Pam Cooper and Kim Duncan; her son, Joe Duncan and wife, Pam; grandchildren, Chad Vernon, Tyson Blanchard and wife Kelli, Trent Blanchard and wife, Alecia, Ryan Bartlett and wife, Melissa, and Joli Kindler and husband, David; and ten great-grandchildren. She is also survived by nephew Tommy Preston and wife, Barbara, niece-in-law, Rose Ann Preston; great nephews, Jeffrey Preston and Jett Preston; great nieces, Meredith Evans and husband, Doug, and Anna Preston; and best friend, Amparo Robles.    

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Gatesville, Pidcoke Cemetery, or to Murphree Cemetery.  

The family extends their heartfelt thanks to the nursing staff at the Assisted Living Wing of Coryell Health and The Oaks for their compassionate care during her time there.