Louise Matilda (Martinez) Duran
Marriages
Walter Duran - 1945
Obituaries
The Daily page page A6 - June 15, 2000
The Daily Trail page page 3 - June 15, 2000
Duran, 50-year resident of Minturn, passes away
Louise Duran, who had moved to Minturn in 1950, died peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, surrounded by her family. Complications after a cardiac arrest claimed Duran, who was 72.
One of 12 children, Luisa Matilde Martinez was born on Sept. 18, 1927, in LaJara, Colo. She grew up in the San Luis Valley and married Walter Duran in Del Norte, Colo., in 1945.
Their first two children, Christopher Walter, Born in 1947, and Lorraine, 1949, both died in infancy. However, daughter Dorothy was born in 1950, and the family moved to Minturn. Son Chris completed the family in 1952.
Many of the locals remember Louise as the manager of Carter's Clothing in Minturn, the lady who kept the people of this small valley clothed for many years.
She was a kind-hearted manager who often extended credit to families who had to buy school clothes, but couldn't quite pay their entire bills. After Carter's closed, Louise continued working in clothing retail at Bullocks in West Vail. She retired in 1984.
Louise loved fishing, hunting, camping, gardening and crocheting. She had a loving and fulfilling relationship with her husband of 55 years. Her greatest pride and joy, however, were her four grandchildren, one step-grandson and two great-grandchildren. Her grandchildren include Jennifer Martinez, Adam Duran, Megan Duran, Michael Rossman and Mallory Duran. Great-grandchildren, Jennifer and James Dockery's sons, are Donovan and Damien.
Louise is also survived by husband Walter, daughter Dorothy and her husband John Martinez, son Chris and wife Karen Duran, daughter-like friend, Emily Barela and four sisters and four brothers.
A rosary will be said for Louise on Friday at St. Patrick's Center in Minturn at 7 p.m. A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday at St. Patrick's at 10 a.m.
Louise's ashes will be laid to rest alongside her two children in LaGarita, Colo.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made to one of Louise's two favorite charities: St. Joseph's Indian School, Chamberlain, S.D. 57326, or Food for the Poor, 550 SW 12th Avenue, Deerfield Beach, Fla 33442-3188
