Melinda "Mindy" Sue Duran

Melinda "Mindy" Sue Duran

Melinda Sue Duran, 65, of Garden City, Kansas passed away Wednesday, September 27^th at St. Francis Hospital in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  A prayer service will be 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, October 8, 2023, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.  Mass of Christian burial will be 10 a.m. Monday, October 9 at the church.  Melinda will be laid to rest at Valley View Cemetery following the service.  The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the St. Mary’s Endowment Fund in care of Robson Funeral Home, 620 N. main Street, Garden City, KS 67846.

Visitation for Melinda will be held on Friday, October 6, 2023 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, October 7, 2023, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Robson Funeral Home, 620 N. Main Street, Garden City.

Melinda was born December 3^rd, 1957, to the late Robert and Jean Shields in Ellsworth, Kansas.  She graduated from Salina South High School in 1975.  She attended Ft. Hays State before moving to Monroe, Louisiana in 1977.  Melinda worked several jobs over the next 14 years, all the while aspiring to follow in her father’s footsteps and become a teacher.  In 1992, Melinda’s dreams were realized when she graduated in the last class from St. Mary’s of the Plains with a bachelor’s degree in education.  She went to work for the Garden City School District as a teacher at Georgia Matthews Elementary School and later she taught at Holcomb Elementary before retiring in 2019.  Melinda met her husband David in the summer of 1999 in Orlando, Florida while representing Garden City at the National Educators Association convention.  Little did she know for the last seven years, Melinda and David worked only 2 blocks from each other.  On June 2, 2001, Melinda and David were married at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.  In 2002, she earned her master’s in education from Kansas State University.  Melinda’s retirement was short-lived, and she quickly went back to doing what she loved, teaching children at St. Mary’s Catholic School.  She served as a computer teacher and most recently, the librarian.  She was a devoted member of St. Mary’s Parish where she served on the Parish Feast Day planning committee, Eucharistic minister, Parish council and served anytime help was needed.

Melinda is survived by her loving husband of 22 years David Duran; her children, Caine Duran and partner Brittany Palomino; Blaine Duran and wife Ky’eira; sister Barbara Rains and husband Darrell; brother David Shields and wife Fiona; grandchildren, Julian Duran; Bently Novack; Arys Duran; Isabella Melinda Marie Duran; nephews, Andrew Shields and Simon Shields.  Nieces, Karisa White and husband Robert; Aubrey Spencer and husband Jarrod; great nieces, Ava Spencer, Brooklyn White and great nephew Oliver Spencer also survive her. 

(Arr. Robson Funeral Home – Garden City  620-276-2364)