Edna Louise Duryea
September 3, 1932 — September 4, 2025
Edna Louise (Hartley) Duryea, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, departed this life on September 4, 2025 peacefully in her sleep at the age of 93 in Houston, Texas. She was the middle child of Fred and Ruth Hartley and was born and raised in a sod house on the family ranch near Dunning, Nebraska on September 3, 1932. All who knew and loved her will miss Edna.
Edna grew up in Dunning, Nebraska in Blaine County and she graduated from Dunning High School at the age of 17. She received her teaching certificate from Kearney State Teachers College and began teaching at the young age of 18 in a one room schoolhouse in Brewster, Nebraska. She taught 1st through 8th grade with about 9 students in various grades. While teaching school, she met and fell in love with the young man delivering milk to the school, Robert Duryea. This simple beginning led to a marriage filled with devotion, happiness, and the blessing of being married to the love of her life, Robert, for 58 years. Robert and Edna moved to Broken Bow in 1954 after they married. Robert passed away in 2011 and Edna continued to live in Broken Bow. The summer of 2018 Edna moved to Houston where her daughter Teresa lives.
Edna had a variety of part time jobs in Broken Bow over the years. She worked at Dittmer Jewelry, Doty’s Department store, and North Park school cafeteria. The job Edna enjoyed the most was selling Avon, which she did for over 20 years. Friends and family fondly called Edna “The Avon Lady”. Edna’s full time job has been a mother and wife.
Edna’ hobbies included: cooking and sewing, playing the piano, dancing with Robert, playing cards with friends, participating in choir and bell choir at the United Methodist Church, and spending time with loved ones, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
The following family loved ones preceded her in death: husband Robert Duryea, parents Fred and Ruth Hartley, sister Elsie Dunning, sister-in-law Shirley Hartley, nephew Keith Hartley, and nephew Robert White.
Edna is survived by her two children, son Michael (and wife Betsy) of Lakewood, Colorado and daughter Teresa of Houston, Texas, her brother George of Lakewood, Colorado, and 4 nieces and nephews. Edna was the proud grandmother of 6 grandchildren which include: Teresa’s children: Nicole (Adam) Garmezy, Kirsten (Anthony Greene) Rice, Alex Rice, and Erin Rice; Michael and Betsy’s children: Brittany (Zach) Whitmore and Kendra (Cody) Rojas. Edna has six great grandchildren: Colton, Peyton, and Rylee Whitmore, Noah and Luca Rojas, and Asher Garmezy.
A private family memorial service was held on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at Metz Mortuary in York, Nebraska. Following the service, a private family interment service was held at the Greenwood Cemetery in York. If you would like to send a donation to commemorate the lives of Edna and Robert, please consider contributing to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org or by mail. Condolences may be sent to Teresa Duryea, 4531 Birch Street, Bellaire, TX 77401 or Michael Duryea,13352 West LaSalle Circle, Lakewood, CO 80228.