On Oct. 16, 2013, God called home a true cowboy. Abigah Elum Duncan, Sr. was born on Feb. 25, 1920, in York, Ariz., to Gus and Nora Duncan. At a young age Bige was quite a horseman and a good ranch hand. Bige graduated from high school in Kingman, Ariz., in 1939. He worked alongside his parents on the Walnut Creek Ranch until 1946 when the Duncan family moved to Lovelock. There Bige and his parents bought the old Salinas Ranch and lived until his final days.
In 1949 Bige met and married the love of his life, Maxine Bell. Bige and Mackie worked side by side on the ranch with their children Bige Jr., Dan, and Debbie.
Bige had a long, full life. He never knew a stranger and was always the first one to help a person in need. Bige enjoyed running mustangs, team roping, calf roping, working on the ranch, and spending time with his family. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Gus and Nora, his son Bige Jr., daughter Debbie and brother Bud Duncan. He is survived by his wife Mackie of 64 years, his son Dan (Joan), his daughter-in-law Marie (Bige Jr.), his grandchildren Dani Jeanne (Tyler) Lawrence, Blake (John) Portman, Kelli (Daniel) Edmonds, A.J. Duncan, and Blair (Cameron) Smith, nine great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. He touched the lives of many people and will be missed greatly.
A memorial service was held for Bige on Oct. 25, 2013, at the Catholic Hall in Lovelock, Nev.
Donations can be made to the Senior ProRodeo Crisis Fund or ACTRA Crisis Fund.
Abigah (Bige) Duncan, Sr.