Dr. Timon G. Dukes
Dr. Timon Grady Dukes
Dr. Timon Grady Dukes, 82, of Clinton, died Feb. 29, 2008 at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson.
He was born Nov. 15, 1925 in White Oak, Mississippi, where he attended school and worked closely with all kinds of livestock, becoming familiar with their health requirements and needs. After graduating from high school he joined the Navy. He was assigned to the carrier USS Princeton in the South Pacific, and participated in several naval battles. On Oct. 24, 1944, the Princeton came under attack in the Leyte Gulf while supporting the U.S. invasion of the Philippines. As the result of a direct hit, the Princeton was sunk. Dr. Dukes led a group of sailors down a fire hose, and swam in shark-infested water for several hours before being rescued. He served on the USS Sibony until the end of war.
He returned to White Oak after the war, as he described himself ``a happy ex-sailor,'' before attending Mississippi Southern and Mississippi State. He earned his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 1954 from Auburn University.
He became one of the first licensed veterinarians in Mississippi, and practiced for six years before joining the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where he was inspector-in-charge of livestock and poultry processing plants. Since April 1974 he has served as the veterinarian for the Mississippi Animal Rescue League, and on its Board of Directors. During that time he spayed or neutered almost 23,000 dogs and cats in preparation for their adoption. The surgical hospital at MARL is named in his honor.
He was a lover of nature and an avid gardener. In 1993 he participated in an exploratory nature trip in the head waters of the Amazon River. He also loved fishing, and went every chance he could with his sons-in-law.
He was a member of First Baptist Church Clinton, where he and his wife Shirley enjoyed participating in the Joy Makers Choir.
He is remembered by friends and family as having a loving, gentle spirit. Paul Cassibry, his Sunday School teacher, described him as ``a quiet, Christian gentleman who was devoted to his Lord, his family, and his practice of veterinarian medicine.''
He is survived by his wife, Shirley Dukes of Clinton, and his beloved sister Polly Clark of Ridgeland. He is also survived by his son Steve Dukes and wife Lynn of Mount Pleasant, NC; son Lee Dukes and wife April of Dallas; daughter Jena McNeece and husband Mark of Clinton; and daughter Jan Clark and husband Monty of Madison; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Alonzo and Minnie Dukes of White Oak, and eight brothers and sisters.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Clinton on Tuesday, March 4. Visitation will be the night before at Lakewood Funeral Home on Clinton Blvd. from 5 to 8 p.m. and on Tuesday morning at First Baptist Church beginning at 10 a.m. Graveside services will be at the White Oak Cemetery at 3 p.m. Memorials may be made to the Mississippi Animal Rescue League.
November 15, 1925 - February 29, 2008
Clinton