Leon C. Duke

90 year old Leon C. Duke of Lancaster died Friday at NHC of Smithville. He was retired from TRW and was a member of the Emmanuel Church of Christ. In 1994, he recorded “Old Time Banjo Rapping” music for the archives in the Country Music Hall of Fame. He was a member of the Cove Hollow Boys, a musician at the Dollywood Amusement Park, a past winner for two years of the “Old Time Banjo” competition at the Smithville Fiddler’s Jamboree, and a past winner of the harmonica competition at Uncle Dave Macon Days in Murfreesboro. The funeral will be Monday at 11:00 a.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Burial will be in Whorton Springs Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from 3:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Monday from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 11:00 a.m. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lena Mae Bates Duke; his parents, Homer and Beulah Putty Duke; and a brother, Odell Duke. Survivors include two daughters, Deborah and her husband Tony Glenn Rast of Pigeon Forge and Vivian Duke of Madison. Grandchildren, Darlene Rickles of Gordonsville, Delia Oldham of Carthage, Vivian Becker of Pigeon Forge, Tony Lee Rast of Colorado, and Venus Redman of Murfreesboro. Great grandchildren, Chris Rickles, Jessica Becker, Kasey Oldham, Crystal Rickles, Kayla Oldham, Victoria Konicki Hopper, and Andrew Redman, Two sisters, Ruthine Hackney of Murfreesboro and Ruby Tisdale of Lebanon. One brother, James Duke of Smithville and special friend, Clayton Anstis. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.