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Duran -- Dolores M. (Montoya) Duran, cherished wife of 66 years to Aaron E. Duran, departed this mortal coil early Sunday morning, February 23, 2003. She had joyously celebrated her 85th birthday on Thursday, February 20, 2003. Dolores was born in Cuba, NM in 1918. She graduated from Menaul High School in 1936. Mrs. Duran spent 40-plus years as a revered educator beginning in 1939, in a one-room schoolhouse located in Los Pinos, NM and retiring in 1980 after many years at Roosevelt Elementary School in Bernalillo, NM. A UNM graduate who received both her Bachelors & Masters Degree in Special Education her bilingual expertise greatly benefited two generations of students in Sandoval County."Goodness, what a robust life Dolores lived"! Singing, laughing, cooking, loving her beloved Aaron, her two sons, LeRoy, (who preceded her in death in 1999); her baby boy Randy; her grand and great-grandchildren; and of course, teaching gave her the most joy in this life. Hard work was the simple ethic of her existence. Her individual and educational success after growing up one of 21 children to JJ and Ninfa Montoya on a homestead ranch in Cuba, NM was the pinnacle of her incredible hard work principal. Nothing got in the way of her dream to be educated and educate others. Dolores is survived by her devoted husband, Aaron; a son, Randy and his wife, Jere of Rifle, CO; grandchildren, Dean Aaron Duran and wife, Melody of Henderson, CO, Stacy Michelle Golden and husband, Chris of Los Angeles, CA, Denise Aileen Barby and husband, Gary of Cold Spring, MN, Darin Ray Duran and wife, Leslie of Englewood, CO, Sean Matthew Duran and wife, Denall of Albuquerque, John Aaron Duran of Los Angeles, CA, Ingrid Sophia Bollman of Los Angeles, CA, Joshua Douglas Bollman of Denver, CO; great-grandchildren, Corey, Casey and Codey Barby and Laurie and Mindy Duran; sister, Olivia R. Smith; brother, Leo Montoya with his life partner, Marion Ryan, all of Albuquerque; and many nieces and nephews. Dear friends and family may visit French Mortuary, University Blvd. Chapel, Wednesday, 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Rosary will follow at 7:00 p.m., with Charles Aguilar reciting. Church services will be held on Thursday, 2:00 p.m., at the Second Presbyterian Church, 812 Edith NE, with Rev. Jaime Quinones and Christina Berry presiding. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park, 924 Menaul NE. Pallbearers will be Emilio Romero, Robert Romero, Conrad Rocha, Anthony Romero, Pete Salazar and Frank Chavez. French Mortuary 1111 University Blvd. NE 843-6333
        Published on: Wed February 26, 2003