Lawrence Duane Stoddard, 82, of Canyon passed away on Thursday, June 28, 2018. Mr. Stoddard was born January 7, 1936 to Lawrence and Lois Ward Stoddard in Petersburg, Texas. He graduated from Amarillo High School in 1954 and attend Amarillo College where he was a member of the golf team. He also attended Texas Tech University and West Texas State University. He married Colette Parks on December 27, 1961 in Amarillo. Duane spent a 43 year career as a mechanical engineer in the Tool Design engineering department at the Pantex Plant. Despite contracting polio when he was 3 years old, he never let having to use crutches slow him down. His father was a mechanic, and Duane grew up around cars and the garage where his father worked. Duane raced cars on the local dragway when he was young. He was a skilled competitor in golf, billards and chess. Duane loved living in the country and supporting his daughters in many years of horse shows and other equine activities. He could be found outdoors on a tractor, building barns, fences and fixing pretty much anything. Duane loved boating, fishing and especially camping around Creede, Colorado with a large group of family from Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. The Colorado vacations have been a tradition for 34 years and five generations. Duane and Colette spent 9 years summering in South Fork, Colorado where they made a lot of friends. He was preceded in death by his mother and father and an older brother, Stanley Stoddard. Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Colette, two daughters, Stefanie Elsea and husband Charles, Jennifer Huddleston and husband Dennis; five grandchildren, Brian Elsea, Chris Elsea, David Elsea, Jared Koller and Samantha Huddleston; and several nieces and nephews. The family is having a private memorial in Colorado where ashes will be scattered in his favorite areas. A celebration of his life with friends and family will be held in Amarillo later in July. The family would like to thank BSA Hospice of the Southwest and True Blessing of Canyon. The family suggests memorials be made to the Ronald McDonald House, 1501 Strait Dr. Amarillo, Texas 79106.