Nancy Marie Arnold Dukette, 86, passed away peacefully on April 24, 2025, in Laurel, Mississippi.  Born on February 10, 1939, in Monticello, Mississippi, Nancy was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend, whose positivity and kindness touched the lives of all who knew her.

As the only child of Walter and Bonnie Arnold, she grew up in small town Mississippi, where she enjoyed outdoor adventures and making others laugh. She met her soulmate, Richard "Duke" Dukette, on a blind date in early 1962, and married shortly after on August 19, 1962. Together they built a life filled with love, teamwork, strong friendships, generosity, humor, and shared memories.

Nancy enjoyed a diverse career in both the medical and legal fields, but perhaps her most fulfilling role was as a kindergarten teacher at Crossgates Baptist Church in Brandon, Mississippi.  She was an active member of Mount Olive First Baptist Church in Mount Olive, Mississippi, where both she and Duke were mentors to the youth group.  Nancy also served on the Mount Olive City Beautiful committee and was a member of Forest Hill High School's class reunion committee for her graduating class of 1958.

Nancy had a passion for talking, music, greeting cards, games, and traveling with friends. She cherished spending time with her family and friends. A true extrovert she never met a stranger, and once you had her as a friend, you had her for life. Her sense of humor, spontaneity, happy demeanor and outgoing personality left a lasting impression on all who knew her.

Nancy is survived by husband Richard Dukette, daughter Paula Opperthauser, son Russell Dukette along with grandchildren Hannah Ho, Logan Dukette and great granddaughter Isabelle Ho. She was preceded in death by her parents Walter and Bonnie Arnold.

A celebration of life will be held at the Mount Olive Community Center 106 South Street Mount Olive, MS 39119; on Sunday, June 1st, 2025, from 1:00 to 5:00PM. The Attire is ​Come as you are. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation www.alz.org or to the American Association for the Blind https://www.afb.org/ in Nancy's memory.