Mrs. Gladys Marie Duckett

April 15, 1933 - December 24, 2020

Our beloved Mother, Grannie, Sister, Aunt, and Friend, Gladys Marie Baker Duckett passed away peacefully with family by her side on December 24, 2020 at the age of 87 in Wickes, Arkansas. Gladys was born to Jimmie and Lula Baker on Thursday, April 15, 1933 with a 2-inch snow on the ground. Her siblings (James, Ralph, Orville, and Marie) doted on her as a baby and her baby brother, Charles. Charles moved home from California to help take care of her later in life. At the age of 19 years old, she married a Korean War Veteran, Jim Ed Duckett. They started a family that November. Gladys took her role as the family matriarch very seriously and never missed an opportunity to bring family together for celebrations. In addition to being a daughter, sister, mom, aunt, and grannie, they started a poultry farm in 1963 and raised for Lane and Tyson for 47 years. She was also known for her large gardens, ability to cook and can, a local real estate mogul for the Hispanic community, and excellent record keeper for her family. Jim and Gladys were baptized at Wickes Nazarene Church in Spring 1991 with family by their side. Gladys has five children Ronnie (Mitzi) Duckett of Mena; Kay (Roy) Johnson of Wickes; Cindy (Sam) Ahrens of DeQueen; Frankie (Dawn) Duckett of Waldo and the late Johnnie Duckett. She has 22 grandchildren; 35 great grandchildren (with 2 on the way) and 3 great great grandchildren. Gladys was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Jim Ed; a son Johnnie Duckett; her parents Jimmie and Lula Thomason Baker; siblings: Orville Baker, Ralph Baker, Ed (Thelma) Baker, Marie (Keith) Duckett and half-brother James (Teelie) Baker; Siblings by marriage: Donald (Burthel) Duckett, Calvin Duckett, Mellie June (JW) Thornton, Ray Duckett, Grandchildren: Jon Michael Neatherlin, Laura LeAnn Johnson, and Grandson-in-law James Wise. Pallbearers will be grandchildren and great grandchildren of Gladys: Trever Pierce, Jay Fuller, Blake Wise, Bailey Wise, Braxton Wise, Noah Richardson, Hayden Collins, and Nick Duckett. Honorary pallbearers will be John Bensen, Clay Knighten, Michael Milum, Robert Lyle, David Johnson, Jared Richardson, Jacob Richardson, Bryan Bolt, John Hill, and Paul Melton A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Wickes Nazarene Church on December 29, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. and graveside will follow at Baker Cemetery in Wickes, Arkansas.