Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec - FriendsOfCumbresToltec.org

Mary-Ruth Yow Duncan, 81, died at her home in Boulder on January 31, 2013, after a brief illness. Family and friends will celebrate her life at a memorial service at 2 pm on Wednesday February 6, 2013, at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Boulder, Colorado. Mary-Ruth Yow was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, on February 12, 1931. A lifelong reader, educator and adventurer, she graduated from Appalachian State University in 1953 with a degree in library science. Soon after, she hopped into her Chevy coupe and drove across the country alone to Billings, Montana, where she launched her career driving the bookmobile for the school district. One day while traveling the streets of Billings, she spotted a beautiful gold car with Virginia license plates parked near her friend's house. Curious about the car's owner, she asked her friend to make an introduction. Walter Duncan was the lucky man. They were married on August 20, 1954. Their daughter Sara was born in 1958. Mary-Ruth spent most of her adult life sharing her love of books with others. She was a school librarian in Florida, Washington, Alaska and Virginia. She also ran school libraries on two U.S. military bases in Germany and served as a librarian in the National War College in Washington, D.C. One of her most rewarding jobs was team-teaching with Walt in a two-room school house on Little Diomede Island, Alaska. About 30 Inuit children enrolled in the school each year. Mary-Ruth taught grades one through three; Walt handled four through eight. She oversaw the language arts and music curriculum; he focused on science, math and physical education. Together they made a difference in the lives of many children and youth. After moving to Boulder in 1998, Mary-Ruth worked in the music library at the University of Colorado and at Carnegie Branch Library for Local History. She retired in 2007. In addition to her passion for books, Mary-Ruth loved classical music and opera. She was also devoted to her faith. An active member of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Mary-Ruth was always happy to serve others, whether that meant supporting a local mission, hosting coffee hour or assembling the church directory. She helped make the St. Andrew community stronger. Mary-Ruth is survived by husband Walt, daughter Sara Conrad, and two grandchildren, Katharina and Maximilian Conrad. Her body has been donated to the University of Colorado and her ashes will be scattered in Virginia at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution in her name to the St. Andrew Presbyterian Church Memorial Garden, 3700 Baseline Road, Boulder CO 80304.

Published in The Boulder Daily Camera on February 4, 2013
Posted by request