Lucy Sneed Duncan

She was born in Austin on January 17, 1929, to Carroll McElroy and Ruth Moreland Sneed. She had a fatal birth defect and underwent risky and rare surgery when she was only a day old. She's been a fighter ever since. Lucy graduated from Austin High School and attended The University of Texas. She fell in love with dance at a young age. The New York City Ballet offered her a scholarship, but she declined it to stay in Austin. She worked as a secretary to a State Representative and later opened a dance school in Buda.

Dance was only one of her talents and passions. She loved water skiing, painting, hunting and fishing. She turned her exquisite taste and boundless creativity into an interior design business. That led to another successful venture remodeling and building custom homes in Dallas. Lucy loved to travel and did so extensively, making new friends wherever she went. She was devoted to her family and friends, and her unfailing kindness and thoughtfulness warmed the lives of everyone she knew. Her elegance, charm and quick wit were the envy of everyone in the family. When she was around, life was fun, exciting and filled with love.

A stroke in 2002 should have taken her life. But once again, she astounded the doctors and fought back. Her activities were curtailed, but she kept moving forward. She set a strong example for her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Patricia Sneed Veal, her grandson, Michael Allison, and her soulmate, C.A. Duncan, Jr. She is survived by her son, Dempsey Watson, her daughter, Lucy Carroll Duncan, both of Austin, her daughter, Melanie Allison of San Francisco, her grandsons, Chad Allison, Daniel Allison, Christopher Allison, and Duncan Watson, her great-grandchildren, Camdyn, Devyn and Gavin Allison, her nieces, Patricia Schepens and Melinda Clune, her step-daughter, Lea Ann Duncan, and her step-sons, John Duncan and David Duncan.

The family would like to thank all the caregivers who, through the years, helped us ensure that she would always be in her home surrounded by those who loved her. Our special thanks to Christina Johnson, Dawn Smith Lovett and Barbara Negron who were with her for most of this long journey.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 14, 2017 in the Weed-Corley-Fish Chapel located at 3125 N. Lamar Blvd, Austin.