Connie R. Duke

She is survived by her devoted children, Cindy Brown and son- in-law Hal Brown of Austin, Texas, Pamela Andrews and son-in-law Mike Andrews of Oxnard, California, and her son Craig A. Duke of Austin, Texas. Connie was loved by her grandchildren Derek Brown and his wife Holly of Austin, Texas, Ross Brown of Austin, Texas, Jill Lamoureux and her husband Haven of Los Angeles California, Jake Boxberger of Birmingham, Alabama, and Geoffrey Boxberger of Wichita, Kansas. She adored her adored great-grand children Ryan, Ames, and Bowen Brown, Jonah and Weston Brown, Rhodes and Wilder Lamoureux. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Jean Romine and her devoted nieces, Jay Ann Quilter, Ann Shaw, Gwynne Canales, Jeanne Schattenberg, Karen Paris, Jackie Romine, Lynn Wheeler, Judy Fields, Robin Moore and their families.

Connie became like a second mom to many of her children’s friends who to this day refer to her as “Aunt Connie”. The family would also like to remember her special family friendship of over 60 years with Albert Fischer and his late wife Betty. Connie is also lovingly survived by her special companion and best friend of the last 7 years, Mr. L. F. “Corkey” Robinson.

Connie was preceded in death by her parents Ethel J. and Hugh J. Romine, her brothers Hugh J. Romine Jr, Robert N. Romine, and her husband of 60 years, Harvey Jack Duke.

Connie has been described as beautiful, elegant, and gracious. She was outgoing, fun, generous and enormously thoughtful to those around her; her positive attitude and infectious good spirit were well known to all her friends and family. Connie loved the Texas Hill Country near Bandera and the Duke children have wonderful memories of weekends spent at the Hill Country ranch with aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. She loved the Texas coast around Rockport and Port Aransas where she and Jack began a tradition in the early 1980’s of spending the fall of each year entertaining friends and family on the beach in Port Aransas. A family and friends Thanksgiving dinner in Port Aransas was a tradition for many years which continued until Connie could no longer travel.

She was an avid fisherman and enjoyed fishing the shallow water from Baffin Bay to Copano Bay as well as sport fishing the Gulf of Mexico off Port Aransas with close family friends Donald and Gaye Belcher. Connie loved the mountains of Colorado and spent many winter and spring seasons with her children and grandchildren skiing the slopes of Beaver Creek. She was always up for an adventure and during a summer in Beaver Creek she even joined her grandsons on a white water river rafting trip. Connie was an eternal optimist and boy did she have fun!!!!

After Jack’s passing in 2007, she decided to move to Longhorn Village to, in her words, “be around people my own age who want to have fun”. Shortly after moving there she met Corkey Robinson. Corkey and Connie quickly became best friends and they shared years of enjoying social events and music. Together they attended social events, charity benefits, and parties at the Longhorn Village, the Austin Symphony, The Austin Club, The Headliners Club, and Austin Country Club. Connie’s family would like to thank the medical and memory care staff of Longhorn Village for the friendship and caring they showed Connie during the last few years as she battled Alzheimer’s disease. We would also like to give a special thanks to her private caregiver Marc Pulver for his amazing spirit, care, and love for our mom.

Due to COVID 19 there will not be a memorial service and the family asks that donations in her honor be sent to:

The Alzheimer’s Association

7719 Wood Hollow Drive #157

Austin, Texas 78731

A private celebration of Connie’s life for family members will be held in in Port Aransas. Connie requested that her family spread her ashes on the dunes in front of the Aransas Princess as the morning sun breaks over the horizon on her beloved Gulf of Mexico.

“I am the resurrection and the Life.” John 11:25