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There are not too many organizations or events in Elizabethton that Lilo Duncan was not involved in or left her imprint on.

Mrs. Duncan, 94, died this week at the Hillview Rehabilitation Center following a brief illness.

Lilo’s parents were German and emigrated to Elizabethton for her father to work at the local rayon plants. Bemberg was formed in Germany, and its U.S. subsidiary made both high-quality rayon fabric for the clothing industry and parachutes for the U.S. military in World War II and the Korean War.

Her parents were Albert and Maria Waecher. She was one of three daughters, two of whom preceded her in death. They were Margaret Broome and Hetty Klapp.

Growing up, she lived on N. Main Street and outlived most of her childhood friends. As a child, she attended St. Elizabethton Catholic Church and its elementary school. Until 1935, when St. Elizabethton Church and School were established on Daytona Place in Elizabethton, Mass was celebrated in parishioners’ homes and at the old Lynnwood Hotel in downtown Elizabethton.

Mrs. Duncan was a devout Catholic and, after elementary school, attended Elizabethton High School and went on to graduate from East Tennessee State University with a degree in education. Following her graduation, she was hired in 1952 to teach at an area school, and unbeknownst to her, a Protestant preacher passed around a petition to keep her from teaching.

In those days, there were few Catholics in Elizabethton, and they were not very welcome in this East Tennessee town. But that changed over time.

Mrs. Duncan — or Lilo, as she was known to friends — was the oldest living member of St. Elizabethton Catholic Church and was devoted to her church and the Lord. She was also a member of the St. Elizabethton Catholic Church Guild and very active in its missions.

Lilo was a retired educator, having taught at Happy Valley Middle School, Keenburg Elementary, Ross Robinson Middle School and Coral Gables High School in Tavernier, Fla.

In addition to her church and teaching career, Lilo was a member of the Elizabethton/Carter County Imagination Library, where she was very active in the library’s annual book sale and the Imagination Library’s Educator of the Year event. She was also a member of the GFWC of the Elizabethton Woman’s Club and worked tirelessly for the club. Lilo worked in the club’s annual holiday craft show each year, enlisting artists and craftspeople to display and sell their work at the show.

She was always a lady on the move, working to make her community and church a better place.

Lilo was the supportive wife of her husband, Howard Duncan, who for a time was football coach at Hampton High School. He preceded her in death.

Although she and Howard had no children of their own, Lilo loved her nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews. Preparing Sunday dinner for her family, including those nieces and nephews, was a very important part of her life. She also enjoyed playing bridge with friends.

Lilo was a bundle of energy, and until her health began to fail about a year ago, she stayed active and drove herself to church and her meetings.

She was a kind and giving person and always thought of others before herself.

Lilo Duncan was devoted to making Elizabethton a better place to live and to serving others. Because of her example, we can all be servants and givers. She showed us the way. She is truly to be admired for her service and commitment to her church, family and friends.

Oh, that we all could be more like her. She certainly was a driving force in the Elizabethton community and will be missed.