With heavy hearts, we share the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, mentor, and friend, (Pearl)Buck Duncan October 1, 1956 - January 2, 2026 Age 69 Buck passed peacefully, surrounded by family, after a brave battle with Stage 4 lung cancer. We are grateful that he did not suffer beyond the familiar back pain he always brushed off with his calm, easygoing spirit. Buck was a man of few words, but when he spoke, it was always with wit, wisdom, and heart. He lived simply and kindly, loving everyone without judgment. His life was guided by an unwavering sense of what was right. As he once told his grandson Elijah, "It's not hard to do the right thing." That one sentence truly summed up who he was. From humble beginnings at the New Mexico Boys Ranch near Belen, to times when he lived out of a station wagon and a VW van, Buck built a life rooted in perseverance, generosity, and integrity. He never forgot where he came from and later in life, returned to the Ranch to give back-building cottages for boys and supporting it as his chosen charity. Buck spent over 45 years in construction, first partnering with his brother, Marc Duncan, founding Custom Drywall & Repair. Later, he went on his own, founding Buck Duncan Construction, Inc. (BUC), and became a respected, even nationally known, general contractor who believed in doing business on a handshake. Many of his employees stayed with him for 30, even 40 years...a true testament to the loyalty and respect he inspired. His success in construction was greatly contributed to by them. Honorable mentions go to Miles Mixon, Marvin Marroquin, Eddie Aguila, Ottoniel Orellana, Jose Gomez, Ernie Ramirez, Chris Hunter, Charles Bergevin, and MANY, MANY others. He was a master craftsman of sheetrock, metal stud framing, finishing, and texture-there was not a texture he couldn't match. He even worked on stilts, dancing and running five feet in the air. He loved driving around Albuquerque pointing out the buildings he helped create, especially his proudest project, the ten-story Anasazi Building in downtown Albuquerque. He loved music-playing guitar, bass, and harmonica-and listening to AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Talking Heads, and tons of others. He loved Conchas Lake, Bud Light (with jokes about "Beerios," "Beeritos," and "Can Cakes"), naps, politics, fishing (even if he once cast the entire pole into the water), and making people laugh with his perfectly timed dry humor. Above all, Buck loved people. He mentored countless men and women, lifting others up when the world had passed them by, and quietly changed lives. He loved his wife and business partner, Tami, of nearly 50 years, their three daughters Rachel, Ginnie, Katie and son-in-law Marky, and his grandchildren Amayagrace, Jameson, Elijah, Jude, Pearl, and Clementine. He was preceded in death by his father Jim, mother Pearl, and sisters Randy and Gabbi. He is also survived by his sisters Rondy Jethro and Tammy Starr Duncan, as well as his brother, Marc Duncan. He loved his siblings, nieces, nephews, and the many friends who became family.

In his final days, he shared these words with us: "Thank you to everybody who was involved in my life. Don't waste your life. Be kind to people. Be happy. Be good in life. Just know I'm sending you off with all the love the world has to offer." Buck built more than buildings. He built people. He built lives. He built a legacy of kindness, humility, laughter, and love. And for those who knew him, the song "Built This City on Rock and Roll" will forever echo with one extra line..."and beer." In lieu of flowers, we invite anyone who wishes to honor him to donate in his name to The Ranches for boys and girls. A celebration of life party will be announced in upcoming weeks. Additionally, there is a link below to share photos. These will be included at the celebration of life. https://photos.app.goo.gl/ds9rYBd4tRoJLwQV7