Barbara E. Duncan

Barbara E. Duncan, age 83, of Belton, Missouri, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at Village Shalom in Overland Park, Kansas, after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer. She was determined to live life fully and on her terms, and she met her illness with strength, grace, and a steady faith.

Barbara was born on September 28, 1942, in Maryville, Missouri, to Melvin and Mabel (Davidson) Wooten. She was raised in rural Missouri in a close-knit family, and those early years shaped her lifelong values of kindness and humility.

She married Roy Duncan, the love of her life, and together they built a warm and welcoming home. They raised three children—Lisa, Debra, and Steve—passing along the values that mattered most to them.

Faith was an important part of Barbara’s life, offering her comfort and peace. She lived it quietly, through generosity and the way she showed up for others. She cared deeply for the people around her, and her greatest hope was that everyone she knew would come to know Jesus as their personal Savior. She prayed daily for the salvation of her family, friends, and even strangers, trusting that God's mercy is wide and His invitation is open to all.

Barbara had a lifelong love of reading. Books were constant companions—from paperbacks to her tablet in later years. She shared that love through her work as a librarian at the Daviess County Library in Gallatin, Missouri, and later at the Jamesport branch in Jamesport, Missouri.

A devoted wife, mom, and grandma, Barbara treasured time with her family and found joy in everyday moments. Even during her final months, she remained a steady and reassuring presence to those around her.

She was preceded in death by her husband Roy Duncan; her parents, Melvin and Mabel Wooten; her siblings Gene Wooten, Beatrice Aldridge, Beverly Alford, Curtis Wooten, and Lester Wooten; and her son-in-law, David Mossinghoff.

Barbara is survived by her children: daughters Lisa Mossinghoff and Debra Duncan, and son Steve (Stacy) Duncan; her grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends who will remember her kindness, quiet strength, and generous heart.

A casual celebration of life will be held on Sunday, March 22, 2026, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Meet Me on Main, 515 Main St., Belton, Missouri. All are welcome to attend and share memories.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care, sent in care of Dickey Funeral Home, P.O. Box 432, Harrisonville, Missouri 64701.