Sammy Ray Duke was born September 28, 1940 in Weldon, Texas to Jim and Vera Duke. He married Robbie Dean Kennedy on September 12, 1959. He passed away on April 9, 2025 in his home in Huntsville, Texas.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 60 years Dean Duke, his son Sammy Ray, Jr.,  his father Jim Duke and mother Vera Duke; his brothers Jack Smith, Benny Duke, Herbert Duke, Edward Duke and Jimmy Harold Duke; sisters Bertha Laskie, Juanita Slay, Dorothy Townsend, Lila Hayes and Ila Laskie.

He is survived by his son Robert Anthony Duke of Huntsville, daughter Teresa and husband Ronald Perkins of Huntsville, Texas; grandchildren Jeremy Duke of Tennessee, Heather Graves and husband Steven Graves of Huntsville, Texas, Robert Duke, Jr. and Abigail Duke of Texas; his great-grandchildren Jamie Graves and partner Damien Rushing, Carlos Barradas Lara, Kristoffer Graves and his "Sweet Pea" Virginia Rose Barradas Lara, great great grandson Jameson Rushing and his adopted son Bubba Milhouse and partner Angel Moore of Spring, Texas. He is also survived by his sisters Patsy Duke Countryman and Peggy Reynolds along with his brothers Mike Duke and Donald Duke.

He was a proud US Army veteran and a deacon at every church that he was a member of.