Our people: Foster grandparent always 'felt useful'

Cleo Duran turns 89 next month.

The News caught up with her Wednesday at her apartment after she attended church and had been to the grocery store.

Q: So you weren't born in Clovis, what brought you here?

A: I was born in Santa Rosa and for my first four years we lived in the workers' barracks for the Conchas Dam project.

My father was a jackhammer foreman.

Going to kindergarten for me was just a few months away and he didn't want me riding the bus to Tucumcari, he wanted me to be close.

He heard about construction for the air base that would become Cannon so he got a job as a carpenter.

My father was a jack-of-all-trades.

Another thing he believed about Clovis is he heard the schools were better here.

Q: Tell us about your family.

A: My husband and I have 11 children: Seven girls and four boys.

By the grace of God they're all still alive.

They are scattered all over the country. One lives in Minnesota, another in Washington, D.C., and many other places.

My husband James and I were married for 26 years but he died over 40 years ago.

I have grandchildren and great-grandchildren but I've lost track as to how many.

Q: What was your career before you retired?

A: I was a teacher.

My first job was helping the kindergarten teacher at Our Lady of Guadalupe school.

I helped her translate.

They wanted me to come back the next fall but I had never even made it to high school for my education.

I worked at Clovis Steam Laundry for a while.

People heard how good I was with the kids at Our Lady of Guadalupe and I was encouraged to take the GED test.

I was very doubtful I would pass the exam but I passed and got my GED.

I taught kids who were way behind.

I worked at La Casita, James Bickley and spent some time at Melrose school.

I worked for Clovis schools for 19 years, then I retired.

Q: You've been volunteering a lot?

A: I volunteered for the Foster Grandparent Program for Curry County and AmeriCorps Seniors.

I just have a way with kids.

They've always given me the hardest ones to deal with.

I remember one student who had the worst scores, the lowest scores in the whole school district.

I prayed and prayed for him, I pray for everyone. The next year he was the most improved in the school district.

I love kids, working with them, playing with them.

I never had any problems with my own kids.

Q: What is the story of you and your church?

A: I've been going to church all my life.

I've helped kids, I've helped older people, I've led a prayer group.

Q: Do you have a favorite place you like to travel?

A: I do like Washington, D.C.

I remember when my daughter was living there in a little community near the airport where the president's plane would take off and land regularly.

It was President Bill Clinton.

We would stand in the back yard and wave at him and he'd wave back.

Q: Is there something you miss from "the old days," the days gone by of New Mexico life?

A: God has never given me any time to miss anything. I've always been busy.

I've always loved kids and I guess I always will.

God gave me a gift for working with children.

My life has been very complete.

I have always felt useful.

I have no regrets.

If I had to do it over again I wouldn't change a thing.