Duane Dell Bryant, 78, of Mt. Vernon, departed this life on March 20, 2013, at his home.
He was born Dec. 21, 1934, in Oklahoma County, the son of Thomas Esker Bryant and Emma Louise (Ragan) Bryant.
He married Donna Lee Harlan on June 3, 1956, at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon. To this union, two sons were born, Michael Duane and Marshall Lee. Donna departed this life on Feb. 26, 1989. On March 2, 1990, he married Glenda Blaydes in Mt. Vernon.
Duane graduated from Centralia High School in 1952. He graduated from Centralia Junior College in 1954, received his Bachelors from Southern Illinois University and received his Master’s from the University of Illinois. Duane was also a Specialist 4th Class in the U.S. Army. He was a teacher, coach, principal and superintendent at Rome Community Consolidated School in Dix for thirty-seven years. Duane taught one year in Odin, prior to beginning his career at Rome Community Consolidated School. After he retired, he was honored by the Board of Education naming the gym at Rome the Duane D. Bryant Gym. Duane also worked at the Regional Office of Education for 17 years upon his retirement.
He was involved in Kiwanis, the Illinois Principal Association, IASA, the Jefferson County Shrine Club and was a thirty-second degree Mason.
He enjoyed spending time with his family, fishing, encouraging all of his students to do their best and was a great inspiration to future teachers and faculty. He will be remembered as a kind and loving man who was willing to help all of those in need and will be sadly missed by those who were fortunate enough to have known him.
In addition to his wife Glenda Bryant of Mt. Vernon, he is survived by his son, Marshall Bryant and wife Yolette of Tucson, Ariz.; his stepson, Robert Eric Blaydes and wife Christina of Mt. Vernon; daughter-in-law Rhoda Bryant of Hereford, Ariz.; grandchildren, Haeleigh and Ian Bryant of Tucson, Ariz.; step-grandchildren, Robert Ethan and Alec Blaydes of Mt. Vernon; two sisters, Betty L. Hizer and husband Dan of McKinney, Texas and Beverly S. Partridge of Mt. Vernon; a brother, Bobby Bryant and wife Delores of Woodland, Mich.; a sister-in-law, Geraldine Bryant of Dix; a brother-in-law, Orley Bryant and wife Eva of Sun City, Ariz.; and several nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.
In addition to his first wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Michael Duane Bryant; two sisters, Janice Miller and Millie Bryant; two brothers, Phoy “Bud” Bryant and William Bryant; two brothers-in-law, Walter Miller and Melvin Partridge; and a sister-in-law, Dorothy Bryant.
Funeral services for Mr. Bryant will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday at Osborn Funeral Home in Dix with Tom Bryant and Jack Lucas officiating. Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday with the Shriner Walkthrough at 7:00 p.m., at Osborn Funeral Home in Dix. Memorials may be made to Rome Community Consolidated School, Pleasant Hill Cemetery or the Jefferson County Shrine Club and will be received at the Osborn Funeral Home, P.O. Box 130, Dix, IL 62830. Online obituary information and condolence information can be found at www.osbornfuneralhomeinc.com.
