Sallie Keirns Duvall

September 6, 1934 - July 25, 2023

The third of Sallie Duvall's three lives came to an end with her passing on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, with her family by her side near Hansville, Washington. Sallie would chuckle when saying she'd lived three lives, which she did! She began her first life when she was born Sallie Elizabeth Laney to William Bryan Laney, Sr. and Margaret Jane Cubbon Laney on September 6, 1934, in Seattle, WA. As the youngest of three children, Sallie, her sister Margaret Jane, and brother William Bryan, grew up spending summers and much of the year at the family's Skunk Bay beach home. Those remained cherished times as she shared the beach house, aptly named "Sunny Sands," for decades with numerous family members and friends. After graduating from Queen Anne High School in 1952, Sallie boarded a train for Denver with the intent to attend the University of Colorado in Boulder. The appeal of leaving Washington, and the possibility of plenty of skiing in Colorado, helped her decision making. At CU she pledged to the Delta Gamma sorority, volunteered for the Conference on World Affairs, became a member of Hesperia, (a junior woman's honorary) and was chosen to join "Angel Flight," a group created to represent the Air Force Academy cadets. During her freshman year at CU, Sallie met Lee Keirns on a blind date. Although they dated some, it wasn't until later their relationship took off. By then, Lee had fulfilled his NROTC obligation. He left for a tour in the Orient while Sallie returned to Seattle to work at Frederick E. Baker Advertising agency in marketing research following her graduation. Sallie's second life was about to begin when she married CU alum Lt. J.G. Howard Lee Keirns on June 25, 1957, in Seattle. Following one Navy year in San Diego, CA, they moved to his hometown, Atwood, KS where she exchanged beach sands for miles of Western Kansas wheat fields. During those Atwood years, daughter Kay Laura and son Douglas Lee were born. While Lee joined the State Bank of Atwood, Sallie became involved in community activities. She fondly remembered the Sunflower Girl Scouts Council, Friends of the Library, and her PEO chapter along with family times with Lee's parents and grandmother. The proximity to Colorado enabled the Keirns family to enjoy skiing at Crested Butte where they purchased an old church which became their converted home away from home. Later they spent holidays in Dillon and skiing in Vail when they weren't vacationing in Rincon de Guayabitos or other Mexico destinations. With Lee's sudden passing on May 11, 1983, Sallie was left with another decision remain in Kansas, return to Washington, or head to Colorado. After a year, she chose the latter for what would become her third life. During her first winter, 1984, in Boulder, Sallie accepted an invitation to attend a Boulder Chapter meeting of the CU Alumni Association and soon joined their board. From there, she never looked back joining the Director's Club, CU Alumni Association Board of Directors, Current Events, Happy Hazels, First Presbyterian, and PEO Chapter CZ. A blind date with George Duvall, an Engineer and another CU grad, would change her life once again when she became Mrs. Sallie Duvall on April 5, 1986. Together they enjoyed 34 years of marriage until his passing on October 5, 2020. They enjoyed many events with their children and grandchildren, skiing, golf, Denver Broncos, CU Buffs, travels around the world, and of course, visits to Skunk Bay. Sallie is survived by: Kay and Brian Mitchell, Doug and Mary Lou Keirns, Dan and Missy Duvall, Susan and Kyle Dickson, John and Margot Duvall, 10 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. The family requests memorial contributions be made in Sallie Keirns Duvall's name to: Trail Winds Hospice 75 Manhattan Drive Suite 1 Boulder, Colorado 80303 Atwood Second Century Fund c/o Jessica PO Box 279 Atwood, Kansas 67730