Obituary for Michael Frank Duckworth
Michael Frank Duckworth
Brevard – Michael Frank Duckworth, 31 of Brevard died Sunday 8 February 2015 as a result of an automobile accident.
Michael was born June 18, 1983 at the Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego California. He is the son of Frank and Rosemary Duckworth and grandson of Maria and Joseph Alves. He is preceded in death by grandparents Frank and Helen McCrary Duckworth, all of Brevard.
Michael is survived by his daughter Zinnia “Zinny” Rose Duckworth, partner Madison Elizabeth Capps, mother of Zinny, sister Danielle Duckworth Mitchener and brother-in-law Robert, niece and nephew Ellie and Will Mitchener, Aunt Sandy Duckworth Brown and husband Hubert, and Aunt Elizabeth Alves Sundstrom and husband Matthew. Michael grew up in Brevard where he loved the outdoors and beautiful mountains. At a young age he became infatuated with hiking and camping in Pisgah National Forest. He would rather sleep in a tent than in his own bedroom and did sleep in a tent in his backyard for two months during his high school years. To deflect his mothers concern he said “Mom I am reading the Bible and enjoying the outdoors.” At a young age he took up mountain biking and competed in national mountain bike races. As a member of the Brevard High School Swim Team he excelled in the 50-yard sprint. In general he loved sports and his ability to compete and enjoy friendships. While a student at Colorado State University Michael was a member of the Mountain Biking Team and Captain of the Downhill Racing Team.
During his formative years, Michael was mentored by Charles Moore who owned a 360-acre tract of pristine land on Kings Creek bordering Pisgah National Forest. Mr. Moore sparked Michael’s love for horticulture by introducing him to rare native plants of the Appalachians Mountains. Michael treasured his time with Mr. Moore exploring his forest wonderland. He graduated from Colorado State University where he studied landscape design and horticulture. He came home to Brevard and started a stonework and landscaping service “Earth Artistry”. Michael was gifted with ability to create beautiful landscape features working with stone and native plants of our region. During high school summers he was mentored by David Reed, a local professional stone artist. Michael was particularly gifted in the dry stack method of building stone walls. His work can be seen at many local residences around Brevard and at the Transylvania County Library in the form of the Brevard Historical Schools Memorial Patio, a work dedicated to the students, faculty and teachers of the old downtown Brevard schools.
A memorial service celebrating Michael’s life will be held at 11am Saturday 14, February at the Davidson River English Chapel in Pisgah National Forest with the Reverend Thomas Murphy officiating. Madi and family would like attendee’s to wear your mountain biking jersey’s in memory of Mike D.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to help support Michael’s child Zinnia through www.YouCaring.com URL address as follows:
https://www.youcaring.com/family-fundraiser/support-and-love-for-madi-capps-and-zinnia-duckworth/305400
On line condolences may be left at www.moodyconnollyfuneralhome.com.
Moody-Connolly Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Brevard – Michael Frank Duckworth, 31 of Brevard died Sunday 8 February 2015 as a result of an automobile accident.
Michael was born June 18, 1983 at the Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego California. He is the son of Frank and Rosemary Duckworth and grandson of Maria and Joseph Alves. He is preceded in death by grandparents Frank and Helen McCrary Duckworth, all of Brevard.
Michael is survived by his daughter Zinnia “Zinny” Rose Duckworth, partner Madison Elizabeth Capps, mother of Zinny, sister Danielle Duckworth Mitchener and brother-in-law Robert, niece and nephew Ellie and Will Mitchener, Aunt Sandy Duckworth Brown and husband Hubert, and Aunt Elizabeth Alves Sundstrom and husband Matthew. Michael grew up in Brevard where he loved the outdoors and beautiful mountains. At a young age he became infatuated with hiking and camping in Pisgah National Forest. He would rather sleep in a tent than in his own bedroom and did sleep in a tent in his backyard for two months during his high school years. To deflect his mothers concern he said “Mom I am reading the Bible and enjoying the outdoors.” At a young age he took up mountain biking and competed in national mountain bike races. As a member of the Brevard High School Swim Team he excelled in the 50-yard sprint. In general he loved sports and his ability to compete and enjoy friendships. While a student at Colorado State University Michael was a member of the Mountain Biking Team and Captain of the Downhill Racing Team.
During his formative years, Michael was mentored by Charles Moore who owned a 360-acre tract of pristine land on Kings Creek bordering Pisgah National Forest. Mr. Moore sparked Michael’s love for horticulture by introducing him to rare native plants of the Appalachians Mountains. Michael treasured his time with Mr. Moore exploring his forest wonderland. He graduated from Colorado State University where he studied landscape design and horticulture. He came home to Brevard and started a stonework and landscaping service “Earth Artistry”. Michael was gifted with ability to create beautiful landscape features working with stone and native plants of our region. During high school summers he was mentored by David Reed, a local professional stone artist. Michael was particularly gifted in the dry stack method of building stone walls. His work can be seen at many local residences around Brevard and at the Transylvania County Library in the form of the Brevard Historical Schools Memorial Patio, a work dedicated to the students, faculty and teachers of the old downtown Brevard schools.
A memorial service celebrating Michael’s life will be held at 11am Saturday 14, February at the Davidson River English Chapel in Pisgah National Forest with the Reverend Thomas Murphy officiating. Madi and family would like attendee’s to wear your mountain biking jersey’s in memory of Mike D.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to help support Michael’s child Zinnia through www.YouCaring.com URL address as follows:
https://www.youcaring.com/family-fundraiser/support-and-love-for-madi-capps-and-zinnia-duckworth/305400
On line condolences may be left at www.moodyconnollyfuneralhome.com.
Moody-Connolly Funeral Home is assisting the family.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Michael Frank Duckworth, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.
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