BEAVER DAM, Ky. — Mary K. Duvall, 94, of Beaver Dam, died on July 1, 2024, at Ohio County Healthcare. She was born in Ohio County, Kentucky, to Berry Lynn and Elba Bean Taylor and lived in Ohio County her entire life.
Mary worked as Executive Secretary for the Kentucky Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors for nearly 50 years. Mary was awarded an honorary Funeral Director’s License and was named Kentucky’s “First Lady of Funeral Service.”
Outside of her career, Mary loved the City of Beaver Dam, serving for many years on the Ohio County Tourism Commission. She was instrumental in events like the Strawberry Festival and Downtown Christmas. As an avid antique collector, she enjoyed connecting with others at her store, playing the piano, and cheering on the Kentucky Wildcats.
She was a member of Beaver Dam Baptist Church and attended Goshen Church.
Mary is preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, George Lendol Duvall; parents, Berry and Elba Taylor; seven brothers and sisters; grandson, Joe Lendol Brashear; and son-in-law, Glen Russelburg.
She is survived by her daughters, Jo Jo Russelburg, of Beaver Dam, and De De (Lanny) Ashby, of Hanson, Kentucky; granddaughters, Jenna Brashear (John Palmer), of Owensboro, Kentucky, Katy Howlett (Houston), of Glendale, Kentucky, and Kourtney Ashby, of Hanson; and great-grandchildren, Hiram and Audrey Howlett, and Cormac Palmer.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 3, at William L. Danks Funeral Home in Beaver Dam with Dr. Glenn Armstrong officiating. Burial will follow in Sunnyside Cemetery. Friends may visit with Mary K’s family from 9 a.m. until the time of the service Wednesday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests expressions of sympathy to the Beaver Dam Foundation, c/o City of Beaver Dam for the George and Mary Duvall Project, PO Box 408, Beaver Dam, KY 42320.
Online condolences may be left for the family of Mary K. Duvall by visiting her memorial tribute at www.danksfuneralhome.com.