John C. Duncan

John C. Duncan was born in Prentiss, Mississippi on December 8, 1950, and died in Shreveport, Louisiana on November 5, 2025, as a result of small cell lung cancer.

John is preceded in death by his father, the Reverand Charles Finnis Cross Duncan, Sr.; his stepmothers, Marguerite Brown Duncan and Clara Box Duncan; his sister, Sarah Lee Duncan and his nephew, Dr. Daniel Ray Nightengale.

John is survived by his wife of 53 years, Marsha Robertson Duncan; his children, Allison Louise Duncan and William Cross Duncan (Mandy); his grandchildren, Annie Louise Bushnell, Aaron Joel Duncan, Eva Jordan Duncan and John Martin Bushnell; his brother, Charles Cross Duncan, Jr. (Dana); his brother-in-law, William Scott Robertson (Susan), and his sisters; Karen Dale Duncan Nightengale, Faye Brown Barnes (Guy), Gale Brown Burgess (Tommy) and Maureen Nola Andries. He is also survived by nieces and nephews, Donald Allen Nightengale, Jr., Vicki Nightengale Moore, The Honorable Stuart Kyle Duncan (Martha), Kelly Alyene Duncan, Ryan Duncan (Justin), Brandon Duncan, Stephen Scott Schilling (Marie-Claude), Eryn Schilling Kubinsiki, Hunter Phillip Robertson (Megan), Stacy Lafitte Ritch (Scott), LeeJay Haddox (Sharon), Adrianne Haddox Smith (Trey) and Ainslee Barnes Carnahan (Lance).

John grew up in countless towns and went to many schools. After attending four high schools, he graduated from C.E. Byrd High School in 1969. He attended LSU and USL and was a faithful (and sometimes frustrated) Tiger football fan.

John had a long career in the oilfield, beginning in the South Louisiana bayous as a Roughneck. He worked up to Toolpusher and spent twenty years as a drilling consultant. His work brought him all over the world from the Gulf of Mexico to Indonesia, Nigeria, Venezuela, North Dakota and finally West Texas. He was always “Making Hole”.

John, also known as Grand father (with a pause), loved his family, the water (from Arkansas lakes to the oceans across the world) and his red 1958 Apache truck. Most of all, he loved his wife. Marsha was the center of his universe and together they had a wild ride- an amazing journey. John is now pure light and shines down on all of us.

The family expresses gratitude to the staff at Highland Cancer Center, especially Dr. Chintapalli and Lisa, as well as the staff at Highland Hospital and the Carpenter House with St. Joseph Hospice for their care and kindness.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Cancer Society or the charity of your choice.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later time.