On Tuesday, August 4, 2001 at 3:42.a.m. MST, Duane Floyd Checketts, 77 died in his sleep due to complications from pneumonia. He is survived by his wife Bette and two children, Douglas Checketts, Patty Smith, and 8 grandchildren.
Duane, who was fondly called “Duke” by everyone who knew him was born in Farmington, Utah on March 8, 1924. His father Floyd, was one of 10 children raised in a tiny house built by his own Mormon father who immigrated in the early 1860's from Birmingham, England. Duane was working as a ship fitter in the San Francisco shipyards when he was called into active duty in the United States Navy in early 1942. He served as a firefighter in World War II on board ship in the South Pacific until his release from the military at the War’s end in 1945. An experienced welder, he was called upon to weld a slab of steel on his ship to cover a huge hole blown by the Japanese navy during combat. This activity was performed while the ship and fleet was at full steam and in convoy formation.
On June 2, 1946 he married Bette Fifield. After the war he worked for the same family-owned truck body manufacturing company for 37 years. During that period, he worked his way up from welder, to foreman to superintendent of two shifts to Company salesman. Until he finally retired on Social Security 10 years later at age 65, he worked as a general-purpose maintenance man in an electronics company.
He became baptized into the Jehovah’s Witness religion in 1963 and served in his congregation in various support positions, including magazine, literature and accounts servant. Up until a hip-replacement prevented him from doing so a few years ago, he always enjoyed working alone visiting the homes of neighbors each Saturday morning and offering the Watchtower and Awake! Magazines.
He never seriously engaged himself in hobbies nor reached out to make many close friends during his life. His life revolved around his work, his wife and his religion. He was a father who found it difficult to show outward emotion to his children, but made up for that by setting a good example as a hard-working, honest and decent man.
He enjoyed singing and with his magnificent untrained voice loved to sit around the piano and sing his favorite songs while being accompanied on the piano by his son. “Estrellita” (“My Little Star”) was his favorite.
He never turned down an offer to help someone and was always cheerfully available when his children needed him. He was a simple and humble man. He will be missed by all whose lives he touched.
Rest in peace, Dad. You’ve earned that rest. I was blessed to have you in life.
Your son,
Doug