BEAVER DAM, Ky. — Hugh Edward Duke, Jr. “Hugh Eddie”, 76, of Beaver Dam, departed this life on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, at Ohio County Hospital. He was born Dec. 1, 1940, in Pikeville, Kentucky, to the late Hugh Edward Duke Sr. and Marguerite Ashley Duke.
Hugh Eddie was a 1958 graduate of Harford High School, attended Western State College and was a 1962 graduate of Kentucky School of Mortuary Science.
Hugh Eddie spent the last 58 years working in funeral service. In 1959, he began serving his funeral directors and embalmers apprenticeship at his father’s funeral establishment, Duke Funeral Home in Dundee, Kentucky, where he worked until 1963 when he began to run his father’s second funeral home in Centertown, Kentucky.
In 1966, he took over operation of Duke Funeral Home in Hartford, Kentucky, and continued working there until his father sold the establishment in 1986.
From 1987 to 2007, Hugh Eddie continued his career at Heritage Funeral Home in Panama City, Florida.
In 2007, he moved back to Ohio County and joined the staff at William L. Danks Funeral Home where he was known as the most devoted and dependable employee.
Hugh Eddie was a member of Panther Creek Baptist Church in Owensboro, a member of the Centertown Masonic Lodge #714 F&AM, and a former member of the Shriners and Elks Lodge in Panama City.
Hugh Eddie loved serving people, he lived a life of service to others. Whether it was taking a newspaper to his next door neighbor or calling to check on a sick friend, he was always there. He genuinely enjoyed engaging people, whether it was at his workplace or his daily lunch spot at O.C. Café.
Aside from his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Tommy Duke.
Survivors include one son, Rev. Eddie (Lisa) Duke, of Owensboro, Kentucky; one daughter, Dr. Carey (Derek) Ruiz, of Lexington, Kentucky; 11 grandchildren, Megann Brown, Edierah Brown, Kala Brown, Isabella Watkins, Eliana Ruiz, Michael Ruiz, Jeslyn Ruiz, Seth (Ellen) Duke, Sarah (Jarrett) Braden, Samuel Duke, and Sydnie Duke; one sister, Ann (Cecil) Schirtzinger, of Tell City, Indiana; and several nieces and nephews that he loved and cherished.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, at William L. Danks Funeral Home in Beaver Dam, Kentucky with Rev. Eddie Duke officiating. Friends may visit with Hugh Eddie’s family from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. until the time of the service Saturday at the funeral home.
Online condolences may be left for the family by visiting Hugh Eddie’s memorial tribute at www.danksfuneralhome.com.