| Rose and Mervin Duncan will serve Grand Marshals for the Peach Days celebration in Ferron. |
As Ferron City celebrates 101 years of Peach Days, we wish to honor Mervin and Rose Duncan as our Grand Marshals for 2006.
Mervin Duncan was born in Ferron on Feb. 13, 1922 with five brothers and one sister. Upon graduating from Emery High, he left for work and schooling. He served the last months of World War II in the North Pacific and then married Ruth Harris on Dec. 29, 1944. They were blessed with three daughters and one son which has brought 29 grandchildren and 56 great-grandchildren. They were married 62 happy years before Ruth passed away leaving an empty spot in his life.
On Feb. 11, 2004, Mervin married Rose Young Koyle. They now commute between San Francisco and the ranch in Ferron. Rose would come to Ferron to visit her relatives when she was a young girl. Mervin was her brother’s good friend so they became childhood sweethearts. After all these years, they had both lost their partners and the loneliness brought them together again.
When Mervin’s family was small, he worked in the car business for 15 years but decided that happiness was not on a steel hided car. Happiness is a herd of cattle and a wonderful horse. Mervin’s china closet is decorated with trophies from racing and showing good horses. Ranching has been his joy. Like his family, the cattle and horses have filled his life.
Mervin’s many accomplishments include 30 years on the ASCS committee and chairman for the last 10. This was a service rendered with satisfaction. Another 15 years was served on Special Service District #1 building roads throughout the county. He was also on the Ferron Irrigation water board. The San Rafael Conservation District gave him the honor of outstanding rancher of Emery County for the year. Many county and state tours would include the Duncan ranch for modern production. He was a member of the Ferron Cattle Association for 50 years. FHA sent his name into Washington as the outstanding borrower in the state.
Service in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has always been a high priority. No crops were ever harvested on the Sabbath.
In 1955, the mayor said to Mervin, “We just as well give up Peach Days as hardly anyone came last year.” Peach Days was one of Mervin’s happy boyhood memories with horse racing, entertainment, wrestling, boxing and the very best talent in the county performing. Mervin was riding race horses before he was old enough for school and never gave up the fun. Mervin told the mayor he would put on Peach Days “cause he just couldn’t let it die.” Mervin was the chairman of the Peach Days celebration from 1955-1970. During that time, they had kid pony, saddle horse and race horse races. They invited dance groups from each town in the area and held a dancing contest. Mervin remembers the auditorium was filled with standing room only.
Has Peach Days wore out? “Not on your life.” Each year Peach Days continues to get bigger and better.
Ferron City appreciates the Mervin Duncan family for the many years of dedicated service to our community.