The passing of Madison Brooke “Maddie” Duke, 17, in an auto accident July 3, 2016, left a huge hole in the lives of all who knew and loved her.

She could light up a room with her bright smile. She was very compassionate and touched many lives during the short span of her life. She was always ready to listen and help others with

their problems. She had a special relationship with children. She loved them and they loved her. She taught Sunday school and was also involved with the ACES after-school program as well as the Bigfork Buddies program at Bigfork High School.

One of the great joys of her life was attending summer camp at the United Methodist campground on Flathead Lake every year. As soon as the school year ended, she began looking forward to being with her many friends from all over Western Montana.

She loved music and singing, performing with the high school choir, earning “Excellent” ratings in district music festivals, and was offered a music scholarship to California Baptist College in Riverside. She was elected class secretary her sophomore year of high school. She was student-manager of the school wrestling team and briefly participated on the swim team. Very artistic, she drew amazingly beautiful designs.

She was a member of the Bigfork United Methodist Church, attending Sunday school and later teaching. She was involved every year with the church Christmas pageants, making her acting debut at the age of 6 weeks as the baby Jesus. She was also a member of the Mormon Church for a brief time in her life. Maddie was a fun-loving, lively free spirit, full of promise.

“We love you, Maddie, and will miss you terribly, but we will never forget you.”

She is survived by her father, Andrew Duke, of Norco, California; her mother, Stephanie Duke, of Bigfork; sister Jamie and brother Wyatt, of Bigfork; maternal grandparents, Ed and Wendy Gibson, of Kalispell; paternal grandparents, Butch and Corinne Duke, of Norco; uncles, Scott Gibson of Kalispell, and Mike Gibson of Laguna Beach, California; aunt, Merrijane Williamson, of Michigan; uncle, Randy Duke, of Pennsylvania; and numerous other aunts, uncles and cousins.

A celebration of Maddie’s life will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 16, at Community United Methodist Church in Bigfork.

A Madison Duke Memorial Fund has been established at Flathead Bank in Bigfork.