Zoë J Duty

Zoë Jane Irene Anderson Duty was born January 20, 1932 in Fresno, CA, to James Rennie and Frances Irene Anderson.  Growing up, Zoë’s family lived in Fresno where she began school in the first grade at Heaton Elementary.  The family then moved to Bakersfield where her father sold Studebaker cars before finally settling on a family farm in the Hanford/Armona area.  She attended Hanford High School, graduating in 1949.  

On November 11, 1950 Zoë married Lloyd Duty.  For the first eight years of marriage, they lived in Lemoore, Hanford and Riverdale where Lloyd supported the family working the oil fields on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley in addition to cotton and dairy farming.  Their children Harold, Linda, Irene, and David were born during these years.  

In 1958, the family moved to San Luis Obispo where Lloyd attended Cal Poly.  Lloyd began working for the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department and Zoë was a homemaker.  Their son, James, was born in 1962 and the family of seven moved to Cayucos where Lloyd became the resident deputy.

Lloyd was promoted to run the new Sheriff’s Substation in Atascadero in 1964.  The family made their new home at the house they bought on Santa Rosa Road above Atascadero Lake, where Zoë remained until her death.

Once the children started school, Zoë began working part time at the Sheriff’s Substation as a dispatcher.  Working alongside Lloyd brought her great joy.  Zoë then worked as a correctional officer when Lloyd was promoted to the main Sheriff’s office in San Luis.  She also worked at the Junior High School as a lunchtime supervisor.

Following Lloyd’s death in 1977, Zoë enrolled at Cuesta College earning an Associate’s degree in 1978. Upon graduating, she began work in Home Health Care, which she did for 25 years.

Zoë was always looking for ways to minister to others and be helpful in her church.  She participated in choir, bible studies, and food ministries.  After retiring, she also became active in the community joining the Historical Society and volunteering with the Republican Party in San Luis Obispo County.  She was very proud to be a Red Hat Lady.  

Zoë loved spending time with her family, participating in her church, and giving back to her community.  She also was a world traveler having visited many locations:  Israel, England, Hawaii, Australia and her father’s homeland of New Zealand.  Just to name a few.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd Duty; her parents, James Rennie and Frances Irene Anderson; her son, David Duty; her daughter, Linda McCutcheon; her sister, Pam Patteson; and her brother, Andrew Anderson.  

Zoë is survived by her son Harold Duty, wife Pam, of Terrell, TX; daughter Irene Uribe, husband Mike, of Fresno; son James Duty, wife Ember, of Atascadero; son-in-law Doug McCutcheon of Atascadero; ten grandchildren; and oodles of great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life Service for Zoë is scheduled for 10 AM, Monday, July 11, 2022, at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Atascadero. Pastor Harold Oliver will officiate.