Sarah Duke

Sarah (“Sally”) Jean Trachier Duke passed away peacefully at the age of 78 on March 27, 2020 in Fort Worth, Texas. She was born on January 7, 1942 in Rochester, New Hampshire to James Arthur Trachier and Mary Rita Trachier. When she was four years old, her family moved to Marshall, Texas where she attended public schools and, as the eldest daughter, assisted in raising her nine other siblings. Upon her high school graduation, she moved to Dallas, Texas to attend the University of Dallas where she received her Registered Nursing Diploma.

Sally spent her life in service to others. The first thirty years of her career she was employed as a Registered Nurse serving in many capacities in hospitals, emergency clinics, and for twenty-five years in service to Tarrant County. Midway through her career she was asked to help develop the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) program for Birdville Independent School District. She accepted this challenge and transitioned into teaching to spend the last twenty years of her career as a HOSA instructor for Richland High School, where she and her students won many awards and numerous times advanced to regional and state competitions.

Sally had a loving and nurturing personality that never went unnoticed. She was the Matriarch of her family in the truest sense of the word. She was a mother to many – not only to her own four daughters, but to her siblings, nieces and nephews, and many adopted friends and pets along the way. She had the ability to give advice and to support others with so much dignity and grace. Her greatest legacy is the love, encouragement, guidance and strength that she provided to her entire family.

Sally is preceded in death by her parents, four siblings and two grandchildren, Chase and Adam. She is survived by her four daughters Jackie and husband Reggi Estes of North Richland Hills, Texas; Joan and husband Steve Goodman of Newark, Texas; Christy and husband Kris Keller of Keller, Texas; and Cindy and husband Jeff Young of Keller, Texas; and siblings Joe Trachier (Carol), Dennis Trachier (Carolyn), Mary Pat Evans (Mark), Steve Trachier (Machele), Kevin Trachier (Michele), and sister-in-law’s Pat Trachier and Lenora Trachier.

Sally’s greatest joys were her grandchildren, who lovingly referred to her as Memaw. She will be most remembered for the numerous hours she spent at sporting events, recitals, spelling bees and her beloved basketball games. Regardless of the weather, Memaw did everything possible to be present at every event. Her grandchildren include Ryan Hulme, Robbie Hagin (Ashley), Cruz Hale (Karlee), Kayla Finley (Justin), CJ Cartwright (Summer), Cody Hale, Erin Van Nest (Tyler), Cameron Keller, Caden Keller, Bryant Young, Braylen Young, Bryce Young and Miles Goodman. Her great grandchildren include Ledger Finley, Harper Hagin, Raelyn Finley, Liam Hagin, Brynlie Van Nest and Adalyne Hagin.

Sally was a long-time member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Grapevine, Texas. The family wishes to extend their greatest gratitude to Sally’s dearest friends and travel companions Carol Watson, Cathy Martin and Emily Livingston.

In the last two years of her life, Sally bravely battled Interstitial Lung Disease participating in a voluntary study at UTSW Hospital in Dallas to help learn more about the disease and its’ treatment. Therefore, in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation at: https://app.mobilecause.com/vf/PFFTribute/SallyDuke .

A memorial mass will be held on Friday, June 26, 2020 at 11:00 am at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Grapevine.

St. Francis will be following social distancing guidelines - Family units may sit together, but pews will be marked for distance for all families / attendees. Masks must be worn by all in the sanctuary.