Mary Lou (Pursell) Dukes, the daughter of Elwyn and Pauline (Walker) Pursell was born on August 2, 1933.

She passed away at her home surrounded by family on December 28, 2022. She was 89 years old.

Mary Lou attended school in Westboro, Missouri, graduating from high school in 1951. After high school, she went to business school in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Mary Lou was united in marriage to Cleo Dukes on May 16, 1954 in Bedford, Iowa. They had two daughters, Debra and Lynn. Cleo and Mary Lou made their home in Westboro, before moving to Greeley, Colorado for Cleo’s work. They returned to the Tarkio, Missouri area in 1965.

Mary Lou worked as the church secretary at First Baptist, Tarkio, for a short time where she was also a Sunday School teacher. Cleo’s job eventually took them to Corpus, Christi, and Hereford, Texas, then to Grand Island, Nebraska. When Cleo retired, they returned to Tarkio. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and visiting with family and friends. She was blessed with a special cousin (Sharon McCall) that was there for her when other family members could not be with her.

Besides her parents and husband, Cleo Dukes, Mary Lou was preceded in death by brother, Jesse Pursell. Survivors include daughters, Debra (Lloyd) Sybert, Laramie, Wyoming and Lynn Stevens, Tarkio; grandchildren, Heidi Sybert, Laramie, Heath Sybert, Laramie, Tabitha Stevens, Jacksonville, Florida, and Aaron Stevens, Norfolk, Virginia; great grandchildren, Teesha, Lars, Matthew, Cody, Taylor, and Tanner, Hailie and Jakobe; great great grandchildren, Cole and Niko; sister, Nancy Ryan, Washington; numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral Service: 10:30 A.M., Monday, January 2, 2023, First Baptist Church, Tarkio.

Open visitation begins 11:00 A.M., Sunday, January 1, Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio, where the family will receive friends from 3:00-4:00 P.M.

Interment: Home Cemetery, Tarkio.

Memorials: First Baptist Church, Tarkio.

Arrangements: Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio.

www.minterfuneralchapels.com