Rebecca Jane Duryee

Rebecca Jane Duryee, 64, of Garland, Texas, passed away, Saturday, January 28, 2017 at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas.   A Celebration of Life Service will be held February 18th at 10:30am at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Whitney Texas, Rebecca’s remains will be interred at a later date in Sebewaing, Michigan. Memorial donations in Rebecca’s name may be made to Vision Outreach International.  Those wishing to sign Rebecca’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.  Rebecca was born May 2, 1952 in Bad Axe, Michigan to Robert & Leah (Earley) Rievert. Robert passed away in 1960, her mother remarried Frederick Duryee in 1964, and Rebecca was adopted by Frederick. She grew up in Sebewaing & Essexville, Michigan and graduated from Essexville Garber High School in 1970, and from Ferris State College with an Associate’s Degree in 1972.  Rebecca moved to Dallas in 1978 and worked for much of her career as a data processer in the financial industry in Dallas, retiring several years ago due to health issues.    Rebecca had significant health issues all of her life. She was one of the first pediatric open-heart surgery patients in the United States, when she underwent surgery at the University of Michigan in 1957.  Despite her physical limitations, she overcame many obstacles to remain independent.  Because of her limited mobility, Rebecca spent much of her later life on-line where she shared a community of friends from across the country.  She enjoyed a broad network of friends on social media.    Rebecca is survived by her parents-Fredrick & Leah Duryee of Whitney, Texas; her brother James R. Duryee of St. Joseph, Michigan; two nieces-Emily J. (Darin) Koenemann of Fort Wayne, Indiana & Melissa A. Duryee of Berrien Springs, Michigan; lots of loving aunts, uncles & cousins; and her best friend Joe. She was preceded in death by her father Robert Rievert and her sister-in-law Cathy A. (Kline) Duryee.