JOHN  DURAN

 The following bio was taken from page 189 of the book entitled “Rusk County History” compiled and edited

And used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Shirley Koym

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator

We, John and I, Bertie Mae, were both born at Pine Hill, Texas into large families.  John Duran, son the Joe C. Duran and Mirtie Wylie Duran, was born January 31, 1909.  Bertie Mae Nelson, daughter of Joseph Melbourne Nelson and Maude Buckner Nelson, was born September 4, 1912.  John and I knew each other through the years but did not start courting until we were both teaching at Minden, Texas.  We were married August 25, 1934 in Carthage, Texas.

 John got his Master of Science Degree from The University of Texas, and I received a Master of Education degree from Stephen F. Austin University.  John continued to teach for twenty-seven years and was Superintendent of Gaston Schools at the time of his death on November 13, 1959.  He is buried in the Buckner Cemetery at Pine Hill, Texas.  I taught for two years and then worked as a social worker for three years.  After this I was a housewife and mother until after John’s death.

 There were four children born to us:  an infant daughter born dead on August 23, 1936; Karen, born August 11, 1940; John Lynn, born September 23, 1944; and Ruth, born April 9, 1950.

 Karen has a Bachelor of Music degree from North Texas State University and a Master of Education in counseling from Stephen F. Austin State University.  She is teaching private music lessons.  She married Michael Ray Dean, son of the M. R. Deans of Mineola, Texas, on January 30, 1965, in the First Methodist Church in Henderson.  Ray has a Mechanical Engineering Degree from the University of Houston, Texas.  He is now vice-president of engineering with Teledyne-Merla Company of Dallas, Texas.

 John Lynn has doctorate from the University of Texas in dentistry.  (See John Lynn Duran Family.)

 Ruth has her B. A. from Rice University and her M. A. in math from the University of Texas.  She is working with Cabot Corporation of Houston as Systems and Programming Manager.  She married David Allen Rusk, son of Harold M. and Ruth Rusk, on July 29, 1972 at the First Methodist Church in Henderson.  David has an M. S. Degree in math from The University of Texas.  He is Computer Programmer for Sky Top Brewster in Conroe, Texas.

During John’s life our family spent two weeks every summer traveling.  We camped out and were drawn together as a close family.  We liked to fish.  We had a lake house in the county and had some very pleasant times there.  Our families are close-tied, so we enjoyed every holiday with both of them.  We made many friends.  We lived at Minden, Texas for three years; Leverett’s Chapel, Texas, for eight years; for one year at Sabine, Texas; for fifteen years at Gaston School, Joinerville, Texas.

 I started back teaching in Henderson School in 1960 and taught until 1978.  I retired then and live in Henderson.  I do some painting, needlepoint, crocheting, and generally look after my children and grandson.  We are all members of the Methodist Church.

Submitted by Mrs. Bertie Mae Duran