Herbert Duane Cruzan

HERBERT DUANE CRUZAN Duane was born on April 3, 1941, in Cortez, the second child of Herbert L. and Flora O. Cruzan. He passed away on July 3, 2005 at the Valley Inn in Mancos at the age of 64. Duane started school at the Mildred Community School and attended about 15 schools in five states before starting high school here in 1956. He left school in 1958 and joined the U.S. Army where he earned his diploma during a three-year enlistment. He served at various Army posts in the U.S. and Germany before receiving an honorable discharge in 1960. He married Caroline Sunde in Colorado Springs in 1960. Three children were born to this marriage. He and Caroline divorced in 1973. He married Patricia Gabriel in 1977 and they divorced in 1996. Duane resided in Portland, Ore., throughout both marriages. Early on, he was in the construction business. Later on he took a course in business-machine repair and worked in that business for a few years. Fairly early in his career, he was permanently disabled by back injuries and surgeries. He dealt with severe pain for most of the last half of his life. Duane returned to Colo. in 1996 and relocated to Ariz. the following year. He returned to Cortez in 2003 and spent the last two years of his life in his birthplace. He was preceded in death by both parents and the mother of his children, Caroline. He is survived by his daughter, Paula DelPriore, of Pueblo, Colo.; his two sons, Jeffrey of Boston, Mass., and David, of Redding, Calif.; his brother, Robert and wife, Marsha of Cortez; sister, Linda Wancura, of Mesa, Ariz.,; his second wife, Patricia Gabriel, of Moro, Ore., and his stepdaughter, Jerilea Mayfield, also of Moro, Ore. He is also survived by six grandchildren and three step-grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and many friends. In accordance with Duane’s wishes, no services are planned. His surviving family extends its heartfelt thanks to the Valley Inn and Hospice of Montezuma, who provided loving care for Duane in his final very difficult days. The family also requests that any who wish to send flowers please make a donation to either of these entities instead. The family also wishes to recognize and thank Duane’s many friends who helped ease his discomfort with their friendship and support during the final months of his life.