Li Duran was born on August 2, 1957 in Fresno California and was raised in Ventura.
She moved to Maine when she was 15 years old. During her time there, she married Nick Nicoles, though they eventually divorced. She learned how to train horses and how to play African Drums. She toured with a Drum group, did drumming seminars at schools and later managed a group of drummers. She also learned a lot about herbs and cooking. She became an incredible cook and was always learning new recipes and techniques all the rest of her years.
In the mid 1980’s she returned to California for a visit and never left. With her sister and brother-in-law, they opened a health food store which stayed open for 2 years. She then went to work at Voice Powered in 1992, where she eventually became a Customer Service manager and is where she met her future husband, Henry Duran. They were married on April 19, 1994.
In 1998, she became a certified Massage Therapist. In 2001 she moved with her husband to Lancaster, California and in 2002, she began teaching Massage Therapy at CCI. A few years later she transitioned back to Massage Therapy full time and had a successful career.
In early 2022, she suffered an injury that prevented her from working. She spent the year trying to recover but suffered an unexpected complication on January 10, 2023 which sadly resulted in her passing.
Li is survived by her husband Henry Duran, Sister Starla Kolkman, her Nieces, Joy, Jeanine, Caterina and Nephew Darren Tolar.