James Brice Duff, age 67, of Benton, passed away at 12:44 a.m. Thursday, January 22, 2026, at the Deaconess Midtown Hospital of Evansville, Indiana.
Jim’s wishes are to be cremated.
Celebration of Life Services will be announced in the future. The Leffler Funeral Home of Benton is in charge of the services.
Jim was born on July 12, 1958, in Omaha, Nebraska; the son of Paul Duff and Betty Jean (Leslie) Duff. He married the former Amy Purdy on May 7, 2016. Together they shared their lives together dating and in marriage for just shy of 26 years.
He formerly worked in customer service with Crownline Boats of West Frankfort. Later he would work and retire with F.B. McAfoos & Co. of Benton, where he was the parts manager. After retirement he went back to work and was currently employed with Federated Auto Parts of Marion, Illinois.
Jim was a Past-Worshipful Master with Frankfort Lodge #567 A.F. & A.M. of West Frankfort, Illinois, and currently served as Junior Warden. He was the head cook for 567 Smokers and was known for his smoked pork chop sandwiches and ribs. Jim was also an Honorary Member of Blazing Star Lodge #458 of Carrier Mills, Illinois, Akin Lodge #749 of Thompsonville, Illinois, and Hurst Lodge #1004 of Hurst, Illinois. Jim was a current board member of the Hill City Water District.
He enjoyed cooking, especially smoking meat. He and his wife enjoyed deer hunting, camping, and traveling. He loved working on cars and his family said he could fix anything.
Jim is survived by his loving wife Amy Purdy Duff of Benton, Illinois; his father and stepmother Paul Duff and wife Joleene of Onawa, Iowa, two sons: Russell Duff of Colorado Springs, Colorado, James Duff, and fiancée Rachel of Carterville, Illinois; four grandchildren: Mackenzie Duff, Kaitlynn Duff, Sophia Ecklund, Scylar Russell; four siblings: Jill Bauer and husband Jerry of Columbia, Illinois, Jean Huie and husband John of Coello, Illinois, Jerri George and husband Gary of Centralia, Illinois, Joe Duff of Kell, Illinois; brother-in-law Matthew Purdy and wife Melissa of Murray, Kentucky, sister-in-law Jenny Strollo and husband Bill of Christiansburg, Virginia; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother Betty Jean Duff, a brother John Duff and his father-in-law and mother-in-law Jack and Judith Purdy.
The family prefers that memorial contributions be made payable in memory of Jim, to the Frankfort Lodge #567, to be used for scholarships; and will be accepted at the funeral home.
To give online condolences to the family, or to share memories of Jim, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com.
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