Obituary of Gilda Dukes

Gilda McHan Dukes, 81, went home to be with her Lord Friday morning June 25, 2010. She was a native of Swain County and the daughter of the late Ellis Stuart and Parcie Brendle McHan. She was a teacher for Special Education Students at Almond Elementary and West Swain Elementary Schools starting in 1969 until her retirement. She was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church. She was a US Air Force Veteran having served during the Korean Conflict. Besides her parents she was preceded in death by her husband Lloyd Dukes, two brothers JT McHan and Ellis Stuart McHan Jr., and a Twin sister Hilda McHan Somers. She is survived by, three sons, Ronald Dale Dukes of Bryson City, James Warren Dukes and wife Vicki of Bryson City, and Russell Dean Dukes and wife Sandra of Athens, GA, and one daughter, Deborah Ruth Dukes Pittman of Mooresville, NC, 7 grandchildren, Matthew Dukes, Allison Dukes Marr, Lena Pittman Dover, Christopher Pittman, Amanda Dukes, Carolyn Dukes, and Jennifer Dukes, two great grandchildren, Samantha and Alissa Dover, six sisters, Doris Lindsay of Winston-Salem, NC, Bobbie Jenkins of Achilles, VA, Betty Clontz of Grafton, VA, Ann Hedgebeth of Hampton, VA, Linda Huskey of Bryson City, and Kay Moore of Bryson City, and one brother, Wayne McHan of Franklin, NC. Funeral Services will be held 11:00 AM Tuesday at Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Rev. Peter Mudge will officiate with burial in the Sawyer Cemetery. The Family will receive friends from 7 until 9:00 PM Monday at the Chapel of Crisp Funeral Home. An online register is available at www.crispfuneralhome.org