Dewey Clayton Duncan

Dewey Clayton Duncan, 94, of Chelsea, Alabama, went home to his Heavenly Father on March 26, 2025. Dewey was born on January 21, 1931 to Farris and Eunice Duncan in Edgewater, Alabama. He grew up in Edgewater and Fairfield. After high school, he joined the Navy Reserves. He served honorably in the Seabees during the Korean War. He later attended both API (now Auburn University) and Howard University (now Samford University). He married Martha Ann “Marty” Garrett in 1959 and had four daughters.

Dewey’s career was spent primarily in sales and electrical engineering. He worked for several companies including Rust Engineering. In 1975, he started his own business, OMR Parts, Inc., manufacturing electrical switches for chlorine plants. Throughout the years, he hired many students from the Shelby County Trade School (now CTEC) and trained and mentored them. After closing his business in 2014, he never really retired. He pursued other business ventures and became interested in alternative health solutions. An avid reader and lifelong learner, he enjoyed books about quantum physics, magnets, radionics and Rife technology. Dewey had a variety of hobbies and interests. He enjoyed bluegrass music, attending many festivals and performances with family and friends throughout the years. He played guitar and particularly worked at bluegrass and Gypsy jazz. He liked sports cars and race cars and as a younger man, owned a 1956 Corvette. Always very social, in his “retirement” years, Dewey went out almost every day to local businesses to make purchases or pay a bill, but mostly to chat with friends. He was a Christian and would share his faith and tell others to “make God look good every day.” As an adult, he was a member of Green Valley Baptist Church in Hoover, Union United Methodist Church in Westover, The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham and Valleydale Church in Hoover. In his final years, he enjoyed watching Dawson Memorial Baptist Church services on television.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Marty; daughters Penny Fox of Columbiana, Alabama, Nicki Richard of Chelsea, Alabama, Kelly Rasco (Brian) of Chelsea and Wendy Spain (Daniel) of Alabaster. He was “Granddude” to Amanda Sherman (Jerid), Meagan Phillips (Hunter), Katherine Rasco and Matthew Rasco; and his great-grandchildren Thomas, Emma Lynn and Annabelle Phillips and Rosemary, James and Abigail Sherman. Also survived by cousin, Lester Crane (Nancy), niece Kim Donaldson, nephews Darrell Garrett, Milton, Russell, Alan Duncan, his beloved cats Izzy and Sylvester and many other family members and friends.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am with a service to follow in the chapel at Southern Heritage Funeral Home. A committal service to follow at 1:15 pm at Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo.

Special thanks to UAB Neuro-ICU, UAB Spain Rehab, Columbiana Health and Rehab and Enhabit Home Health and Hospice for care provided in recent months.

Dewey had hoped to one day make enough money to be able to pay college tuition for “country boys who wanted to be preachers but could not afford it.” In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Beeson Divinity School, Attention: Elliott Dansby, 800 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham, AL 35229.