Gloria Duggan

Gloria Lorene Brown Duggan was born July 22, 1927 to George Alfred Brown and Alice Cleora (Adams) Brown of Alpine City, Utah. She was the third of five children: LaVon Carroll (Dell); Dorothy Ashpole, Nihart (Robert, Gilbert); Laura Washburn (David); and George Albert Brown (Colleen, Mary Lee). Growing up during the Great Depression and World War II, Gloria and her family worked together to harvest fruits and vegetables from their farm. Whatever they did not eat, they took to Lehi or Salt Lake City to sell. Gloria and her sisters loved to play in the nearby creek, write stories and put on little dramatic plays. Gloria loved traveling whether it was to New York City or the scenic country sides of New England or Europe.

Soon after graduating from American Fork High School in May of 1945, Gloria traveled to San Diego, California to marry Phillip James Maynard, of Riverton, Utah on June 20, 1945. He was serving in the United States Navy. Upon his honorable discharge in February 1946, he returned to Utah. Later, they established their residence in Salt Lake City, Utah where they both found employment. A baby boy, Gregory Phillip Maynard, was born to them on January 5, 1947.

In 1951, at the urging of his brother Ken, Phil, Gloria and Greg moved to San Diego. There Phil found work and a career in construction and Gloria found work at Walker’s Department Store. Three years later, Gloria learned of a new nursing program starting at the then San Diego State College. She applied and was accepted into the program. However, that first year was very hard on her and Phil as she had to live on campus, so Greg was sent to live with her sister Dorothy’s family who live in Atascadero, California. Frequently, she and Phil would drive the 500-mile distance to spend a weekend with Greg. After four years of hard work, Gloria graduated Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She was also a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Lamba Delta Sigma. She began her nursing career working in a local hospital, then working for doctors in their private practices

In 1959, the family moved into a new home that Phil built in La Jolla, California overlooking the Pacific Ocean. While living in La Jolla, Gloria became involved with the San Diego Symphony Association and the Old Globe Shakespeare Theater. She loved attending plays and social gatherings.

On September 2, 1970, Greg married Deborah Christina Pfost. Soon after, Phil and Gloria separated and finally divorced in February 1971.

Gloria moved to Rhode Island to take the position of head nurse at the Mary C. Wheeler School for Girls in Providence, RI.  She also taught community health nursing at Rhode Island College. While at Wheeler School, she meet and married George Francis Duggan of Rumford, RI. on August 25, 1972. Together, they designed and remodeled a beautiful home with a lovely garden and a fish pond in Warwick, RI. Her new home was her castle and refuge. Upon learning of plans to provide community-based health care for low-income families in the City of Pawtucket, she applied for and was given the position of Executive Director. Over the years, she received several certifications. She also wrote and received numerous government grants to expand the program.  Well known in the community and listed in several “Who’s Who in American Women” publications, she retired after fifteen years of service.

 After several years of declining health, Gloria died on October 19, 2023 in Warwick, RI. She was loved and will be greatly missed by family and friends. Gloria is survived by her husband of fifty-one years, George Duggan, her son Gregory, his wife Deborah and their seven children: Courtney (deceased), Julie Ann, John, Kristie, Katharine, Daniel and Matthew; 23 great grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren. A viewing will be held from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. on November 1, 2023 at the Anderson and Sons Mortuary in their Lone Peak Chapel, 6141 W. 11000 N. Highland, Utah. The funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. Afterwards, her interment will occur in the Alpine City, Utah Cemetery.