Floy Belle Duffey

Funeral services for Mrs. Floy Belle Fee Duffey, 91 of Gilmer, will be Saturday, December 6, 2014 at 10:00 at Croley Funeral Home in Gilmer, Texas Bro. David Mays and Bro. David Calvert officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park in Gilmer. Mrs. Duffey passed away on Wednesday, December 3, 2014. Floy Belle was born September 2, 1923, in Big Sandy, Texas to Robert Marion Gee and Ida Belle Reed Gee. She was raised and lived most of her life in Upshur County. Her mother married, E. N. Calvert and moved to Simpsonville when she was 5 yrs. Old. He was a wonderful father to her. She graduated from Union Hill School and was valedictorian of her graduating class. She prided herself in never missing a day of school. She was a member of Perryville Methodist Church for more than 70 years and played the piano for church services for more than 50 years. She also played the piano for numerous events throughout her life. She married James Frederick Duffey on May 6, 1944, in Providence, Rhode Island where he was serving in the navy during WWII. When he was discharged, they made their home in Simpsonville where the family home still stands. She helped James on the farm canning and preserving the vegetables he raised when she wasn"t working. She was a wonderful wife, mother, sister, sister-in-law and friend and will be greatly missed. Floy Belle was the insurance clerk for 25 years at Ragland-Fenlaw-Ford Clinic/Hospital. She was very involved in the Order of Eastern Star and was the representative to British Columbia. She moved to Tyler, next door to her daughter, in 1998 and while there participated in the TASCA senior citizens organization. She was a very active person with several engagements a day until her eyesight became so poor she had to quit driving. She is survived by her three children- Jimmie Hernandez and Demetrio Hernandez of Tyler, Dianne Gibbons and husband, Bobby of Longview, and Van Duffey and wife Stacey of Simpsonville; eight grandchildren- Rebecca Alejandro and husband Joe of Grand Prairie, Daniel Hernandez of Dallas, Nicholas Hernandez and Sara Hernandez of Tyler, Brett Gibbons and wife, Salah and Christi Gibbons of Austin, Marc Duffey and wife Ashley of Simpsonville, and Angela Cox and husband, Johnie, Dixie Calvert, Louise Duffey and Pet Green; and numerous nieces and nephews. Floy Belle was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and siblings- Howard Calvert, Bert Calvert, Ilda Pittman, Leo Green, Johnnie Lou Sorrells, Eula Rhodes and Frank Calvert. The family will receive friends Friday, December 5 from 6-8 P.M. at Croley Funeral Home in Gilmer.