Irene Evangeline Duckworth passed away peacefully on February 4, 2022, in King City, California.  She was 91 years and 11 months old.

Irene was born on March 26, 1930, in Bryson, California to Angel Laguna and Susie Boronda Laguna. She was the 5th of 12 brothers and sisters.  Irene was very proud of her Salinan Indian heritage.  Irene has lived in Bryson, Lockwood, Long Valley, Soledad, the Mission District-Soledad, Priest Valley, Pine Canyon-King City and finally King City.   Out of all of the places she has lived; in her heart, she considered Priest Valley her home where she lived as a cowboy/rancher's wife with her husband Bob.

Irene loved spending time with her sister's Laura & Rosie, her mother & grandmother. Irene's Mother (Susie) taught her how to sew, which is a craft she carried with her for the rest of her life.  Irene loved to sew. She was known to make her own dresses and blouses. She enjoyed quilting and was even known to make doll clothes for her daughters' dolls.

Irene attended Lockwood Grammar School where she made lots of friends.  Some of those friends were Lois, Gerri, Len and Hank Duckworth.  Little did she know how these friendships would grow and that they would one day become family.  Lifelong friendships.

Irene's best friends, Lois and Gerri Duckworth had a very handsome brother.  His name was Robert or as everyone called him, Bob.  Their story begins as he was discharged from the United States Army. His parents had a "welcome home" party where Bob and Irene began "talking".  It was soon after that Bob asked Irene on a date.  With this first date, the rest is history.  They fell head over heels in love and were married on January 18, 1947, in Reno, Nevada.  On January 18, 2017, Bob and Irene celebrated their 70 ^th Wedding Anniversary.  The love they shared for each other is something we only read about in fairy tales.

They made their first home on the Aeore Ranch in Soledad.  Now Irene was a great seamstress and could work as hard as the boys but cooking and baking…well Bob said if the can opener would have broken, he would have starved to death.  With practice and Bob's patience, Irene mastered the art of cooking and baking.  Her pride and joy was to put great meals (and desert) on the table for her family.  In fact, she believed in 3 hot meals a day to which her family enjoyed.

It was at the Aeore Ranch in Soledad where they welcomed the two of their 3 children, Robert and then Allen.  These two sons were the apples of Irene's eye.  She was a Den Mother, 4-H leader and helped in their classrooms.  She was even known to help with their 4-H Swine Projects.  Irene was even known to sew a few Indian costumes made from burlap sacks.  Irene and her sister Laura were even known to take all their kids fishing and cook their catch over an open campfire.

In 1956, Bob bought his very first truck.  It was with this "red" (Irene's favorite color) truck with 1 trailer that Irene helped Bob start," Bob Duckworth Trucking".  They knew starting a business would be hard; and hard it was.  Bob worked during the day for the Aeore Ranch and hauled tomatoes at night. Irene was right by his side making sure he was well taken care of.  She made sure he always had hardy hot meals and his thermus of coffee was hot and exactly to his liking.  Some people doubled their ability to succeed, but Bob and Irene proved them all to be wrong.

In 1957, Bob and Irene left the Aeore Ranch moving their family to the Mission District-just West of Soledad where they began trucking full time.  They grew their trucking business to 15 trucks and over 100 sets of trailers.

It was while they lived in the Mission District that they added a third child, their daughter, Darla.  Irene continued to help in the classroom, be a 4-H Leader, and even chaperoned FFA Field Trips.  It was quite common for Irene to receive a telephone call at 10:00 a.m. from her daughter, "Hey Mom!  Could you bring a cake to school by 3:00 p.m.?" Irene would have that cake, cookies or even brownies by 3:00 p.m.  It never mattered what was asked of her, you could always count on her coming thru for you.  She was even known to deliver full lunches and/or dinners for 3-6 to Darla at work.

Over the years, Irene worked by Bobs side to make the business a success.  There were lots of nights Bob would call and have Irene bring a hot dinner to him and his drivers.  Irene ensured quality family time was spent either at home, on the road or waiting to dump a load of grapes.  But she always made sure we spent time together.  Some of our best memories of our parents are at the shop, in the field topping sugar beets, eating dinner waiting to dump, at the ranch or on the road with Dad.  In 1982, the business was sold, and Bob & Irene retired.

Newly retired, they made their home on The Lazy Key Ranch in Priest Valley, where they started raising cattle.  Both loved the ranch life. Irene loved riding horses, helping Bob with the cattle and her dog "Duke".

As time went on, and her children were grown, Bob and Irene would spend their Friday nights at the Watsonville Speedway watching their son Allen race street stock and the stock cars on the dirt oval track.  Irene got such a kick out of watching Allen race the dare devil came out in her and she told Bob that she wanted to race in the street stock division.  So, Bob, Allen, Dean & Mami Collins and Oliver Albertoni all worked to build her a street stock car.  Irene raced at the Watsonville Speedway for 3 years.

Irene loved to cook, sew, and quilt.  She enjoyed entertaining family and friends at dinner parties, BBQ's or just a Sunday lunch. If you knew her, you knew she was an avid "rockhound".  Every one of her 8 grandchildren (and many others) have been rock hunting with Gramma.  She collected all kinds of rocks and brought them home.  She and Bob often hosted college archeological interns at the ranch.  They both enjoyed talking with people and sharing their history.  She and Bob shared a love for horses, cattle, and the ranch life.  Irene enjoyed riding horses, especially with Bob.

Irene most enjoyed taking care of and spending time with her grandchildren.  Irene truly loved babies, all babies.  She would take the grandkids to the fair, to the airport to watch the planes take off and land, to lunch or pretty much wherever they wanted to go.  Irene would babysit for any of her grandchildren on a moment's notice.

Irene leaves behind her children, Robert (Diane) Duckworth of Priest Valley; Allen (Alicia Barrios of Mariposa) Duckworth Sr. of Priest Valley, and Darla (TJ) Mantel of King City.  She leaves 8 grandchildren, Robert (Tia) Duckworth III of Salinas, Oscar Duckworth of Utah, Samuel (Lisa) Duckworth of Marina, Renee (Steve Haley) Grant of Lockwood, Allison Duckworth of the Mission District, Soledad, Allen Duckworth Jr (Kristian) of Keno Oregon, Dominique (John Pape) Mantel of Fort Hood, Texas and Justin Mantel of Chico, California; 16 great-grandchildren, Trafton Duckworth of Salinas, Brittany (Christian) Stephens of Fort Campell, Kentucky, Oscar Duckworth of Reno, Nevada, Alyssa, Hunter, Julia and Bella Duckworth of Marina, Robert Grant of Lockwood, Lauren (Jason) Carroll of Lockwood; Matti David, Wyatt, Taylor, Allie, Peyton, and Weldon Duckworth of Oregon; her 2 Great-Great Grandchildren are Eli & Brody Carroll of Lockwood.  Irene also leaves behind 2 brothers and a sister, John McCormack of San Lucas, and George McCormack of Madera, California, and Pat (Enar) Anderson of Anchorage Alaska; brothers and sister-law to whom she loved dearly; Bill Press and Hank (Irene) Duckworth of King City including numerous nieces and nephews.

A Memorial/Celebration of Life will be held March 26, 2022, at the Lockwood Community Center, 65951 Lockwood/Jolon Rd., Lockwood, Calif. at 11:00 a.m. Lunch will be served immediately following.

Family requests that any donations to charity in Irene's honor be made to: King City High School FFA Boosters, King City High School Mustang Bench, Pancreatic Cancer or Wounded Warriors Project.