Dr. Grace Duff

TAMMS, Ill. -- Dr. Grace H. Duff, 84, of Tamms died Monday, Aug. 14, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Sept. 26, 1921, daughter of Roy J. and Effie Holshouser Miller. She and Lawrence E. Duff were married Jan. 16, 1945. He died Oct. 26, 1991.

Duff was a graduate of Southern Illinois University. She began her teaching career in 1941 at Pence School in Thebes, Ill. She became the first assistant school superintendent in Alexander County when the position was created in 1945, and then became superintendent in 1955.

After serving in that position 20 years, she became assistant professor in the Department of Educational Administration and Foundations at SIU. While there she became deputy state superintendent of management services and chaired 19 statewide committees studying various aspects of education.

During the 1960s she established one of the first adult education centers in the country to educate and train people for area jobs, and also started one of the first child care centers.

She also provided leadership for the formation of Egyptian Unit School District in 1963, and served as its first superintendent. From 1978 to 2004 Duff worked with several school districts in the area of early childhood education.

Duff was a member of Olive Branch United Methodist Church, Dodge Memorial Library Board, American Association of University Women, Illinois State Board of Education, SIU Retired Professors, Thebes Women's Club, Cairo BPW and Caledonia Chapter 587 Order of Eastern Star.

Survivors include a daughter, Julia Thrower of Cape Girardeau; four sisters, Elsie Munson of St. Augustine, Fla., Lorene McAllister of Oak Park, Mich., Lois Farris of Cape Girardeau, Frances Reid of Jackson; two brothers, Curtis and Roy Miller of Tamms; three grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; and three great-stepgrandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a brother.

Visitation will be Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Crain Funeral Home in Tamms. Eastern Star service will be held at 7:30.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, with Pete Ryan officiating. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery.