Mary Duran

Mary Lou Duran, 64, of Crane, Texas, was chosen for Heaven by our Lord at 12:08 pm on June 4th from complications of an aggressive cancer.

Mary was born on December 22, 1954 in Grandfalls, Texas to the late Melquidez and Lucia Gutierrez. She settled down and raised her family with her devoted husband, Benny, in Crane, Texas for almost 35 years. Mary was the Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent at Rankin ISD after serving as the Administrative Assistant to the Principal at Rankin High School for over 15 years. Looking after children, as well as the educators who worked there, was right up her alley as she was the ultimate mom. Mary was the matriarch of her family and sometimes, even her extended family, even though she was the youngest of her siblings. Her mother's heart was encased in the face of an angel as she was voted Most Beautiful in high school and Campus Queen in college. Beauty, kindness and a devout faith to God, our Father, was her all over and was forever shown through her with a smile that could light up the universe. The reach of her unique spirit was made evident when news of her declining health spread to her friends and family, resulting in what hospital staff called the biggest crowds of people they had ever seen on that floor. What was remarkable was that she was being treated in Dallas, at least a 6 hour drive for everyone that came. No distance was too great to say goodbye to a woman who loved them all with everything that she was.

Mary is survived by her husband of 40 years, Benny Duran of Crane and daughter Valerie Duran of Ft Worth, daughter Marissa Nichols and her husband Keith as well as the light of Mary's life, her three grandchildren, Riley, Ryan, and Reese Nichols of Midlothian. Mary also survives her siblings, sister Alcaria and her husband Gilbert Sanchez, sister Sophia and her husband Edward Ornelas, brother Ruben and wife Tomasa Gutierrez, all of Crane and brother Mike and wife Sylvia Gutierrez of San Antonio as well as many nieces and nephews and godchildren.

Rosary will be held at 7:00 pm on Sunday, June 9, 2019, at the Shaffer-Nichols Funeral Home Chapel in Crane. Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, June 10, 2019, at the Good Shepherd Catholic Church with burial to follow in the Crane County Cemetery.