04/01/2026
Lisa Duran Obituary
July 3, 1948 – March 26, 2026
Lisa Duran of Temperance, Michigan, completed her journey on Earth with her loving family by her side on March 26, 2026. She was a passionate educator, lifelong learner, and loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She was also quite stylish and had a wonderful sense of humor.
She was happiest in nature: listening to bird songs, looking for the first buds of spring, and watching leaves change in the fall. She especially cherished walks through Ansted Park in Bedford, Michigan, with her husband, Juan Duran, who preceded her in death in 2021.
Lisa was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on July 3, 1948, the first of Carl and Alice Ross’s three daughters. She graduated from Shawnee High School in Lima, Ohio, in 1966 and from Ohio State University in 1970. She earned a Master of Education from the University of Toledo in 1977.
She was a dedicated educator throughout her career, spending much of it focused on early childhood education and reading. She taught thousands of children to read, giving them a foundation for success in school and beyond.
She began her career teaching kindergarten in Lima, Norwalk, and Toledo. In 1979, she co-founded Gateway School in Toledo for preschool and kindergarten children. While there, she helped shape the next generation of teachers by mentoring university students. She also taught weekend enrichment classes through the University of Toledo and facilitated an arts program for elementary students at the Toledo Museum of Art.
Later, she worked at Monroe Road Elementary and Douglas Road Elementary in Bedford Public Schools as an early childhood educator and reading specialist until her retirement in 2013. She was a fierce advocate for her fellow teachers as a union steward, helping to win higher wages and defend public education.
Even in retirement, Lisa remained committed to serving others. She volunteered at the Bedford Public Library and the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop. She was a member of the League of Women Voters and served as a poll worker in her community during elections.
Family was always at the center of Lisa’s life. She showered her grandchildren with books, toys, and affection. She always championed the underdog and instilled in her three children a deep commitment to justice, compassion and the environment. They carry out her legacy in the work they do each day.
Endlessly curious, Lisa loved to travel and learn about history and other cultures. Among her favorite trips were to South Korea with her son Drew, northern Minnesota with Juan, and Rhode Island with her daughters and grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Juan, and her parents.
She is lovingly remembered by her sisters, Melinda Yaskoff and Lydia Ross; her children, Arlynn (Enrique) Polletta, Layne (Mark) Flynn, and Drew (Katie) Davis; her grandchildren, Wyatt, Adeline, Rory, Elliot, June, and Lincoln; and the large extended family she gained when she married Juan.
A celebration of life will be held on July 31, 2026; details will be announced. In lieu of flowers, she would appreciate donations in her honor to the Bedford Branch Library (8575 Jackman Road, Temperance, MI 48182).
The family extends their gratitude to the nurses and staff at Flower Hospital and Hospice of Northwest Ohio in Sylvania, Ohio, for providing Lisa with exceptional care and comfort in her final days.
