CENTRAL CITY – Whitney Lee Duarte, 35, of Central City, died Sunday, June 28, 2026, at 12:56AM in Central City. Ms. Duarte was born January 4, 1991, in Owensboro. She was a truck driver for Hinkle Road Construction. Whitney enjoyed fishing, planting flowers, listening to music, and spending time with her friends and her dog, Luke. She loved her kids, decorating, and she loved her work family. She was preceded in death by her grandmother, Joan Owen; uncle, Scottie Johnson; and father, Jimmy Gardner.
She is survived by her mother, Susan (Terry Dale) Bishop; children, Taegan Copus and Taelyn Copus; siblings, Justin (Daniel) Gardner, Terri (Blake) Cunningham, and Cory Mattingly and family; bonus brothers, Jared Rickard and Jacob (Lori) Rickard; significant other, Javarus Webb; nieces and nephews, Tristan Cunningham, Blakelyn Cunningham, and Kopelin Cunningham; bonus nieces and nephews, Abel Rickard, Kash Rickard, Jaxton Rickard, Sophi Rickard, and Nora Rickard; grandparents, Betty Bishop, Terry J. Bishop, and T.C. Owen; and several aunts and uncles.
Memorial services will be Monday, July 6, 2026, at 1:00PM at Tucker Funeral Home in Central City, with Bro. Tommy Webb officiating, assisted by Bro. Kevin Smith. Burial in New Hope Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday after 10:00AM at the funeral home. Online condolences may be made at www.tuckerfuneralhomes.com.
