Duncum

Anna May Frances Rosen Duncum (also known as our loving “Mimi”) was a beloved wife, mother, grand-mother, great-grand-mother, sister, aunt and friend.

She passed away on March 15, 2022, at St. Joseph’s Burleson Manor in Caldwell at the age of 98. Anna was born July 27, 1923, in Manor, the youngest child of Claus and Anna Rosen.

Her parents immigrated from Sweden in the early 1900s, met and married in Austin in 1905.

Always proud of her Swedish heritage, she celebrated many of the customs and traditions. She enjoyed saying and teaching Swedish prayers, poems and songs but most importantly, the phrase, “jag älskar dig,” I love you.

She met William (Bill) Duncum, an Army Air Corp officer, in the fall of 1943 on a blind date in Austin. They married Jan. 20, 1944, and celebrated their 60th anniversary just prior to Bill’s death. They lived in Austin from 1955 until 1978, then moved to a family ranch in Rockdale when Bill retired from AISD.

While living in Austin, Anna was a member of Memorial United Methodist Church, a member and officer of Travis Heights Elementary School PTA and a member of Violet Crown Garden Club.

In Rockdale, she was a member of St John’s United Methodist Church, a Chamber of Commerce ambassador and an associate member of Linwood Acres Garden Club.

Anna often spoke of what a good and blessed life she had. She will be remembered for her fondness of bargain shopping, gardening (especially roses), playing dominoes and 42, but most of all, loving her family with all her heart. And in return, her family made sure hers was a life well loved.

Anna was preceded in death by husband, William C Duncum in 2004, parents, brothers Edward Rosen, Barent Rosen, Earl Rosen, and sister Karen Nichols, all from Austin.

Our precious Mimi will be missed by daughters Margo Gilless (Clyde, deceased) and Debra Jackson (Andy), both of Rockdale; grandchildren Chad Gilless (Sunny) of Bend, Oregon, Eric Gilless (Kim) of Houston, Clark Jackson (Robin) of Buda and Kathryn McClelland (Robert) of Austin; six great-grand-children, who were the absolute light of her life, Weston Jackson, Meghan McClelland, Audrey Jackson, Garner Gilless, William McClelland and Smith Gilless. Several nieces and nephews filled her heart, also.

Visitation was held from 5 to 7 on Friday evening, March 18, at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Rockdale.

The celebration of life service was held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 19, at the funeral home. It was followed by a graveside ceremony at Forest Grove Cemetery.

Anna’s family would like to send their heartfelt appreciation to her caregivers, Donna Cox and Lydia Varela; the physical therapy staff and Unit 3 staff at the St Joseph Burleson Manor in Caldwell; and Norma, Joyce, Dawn, Matt and Brent from Encompass Hospice. They all provided her a wonderful quality of life, in addition to bringing her friendship and joy.

Pallbearers were Dennis Payne, Greg Rosen, Leon Rosen, William Smith, Lee Parsley and Danny Duncum

Honorary pallbearers were John Shoemake, Bill Cooke, Wes Braden, Dub Johnson, Emory Crump, Homer Mowdy and Jerry Waggoner.