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Majored in Elementary Education at Simpson College. Married Dan Koch after my sophomore year, 1971. We moved to Laramie Wyoming for one year, attending U. of Wyoming. Moved back to Indianola. Graduated in 1974. Taught at Irving Elementary for four years. We moved to Vinton Iowa where I taught middle school 5/6 grade, then started Gifted/Talented programs 3rd through 7th grade. Dan and I divorced 1983.
Moved to Taos Ski Valley, NM in 1984. Taught 1st/2nd grade combination class at Taos Valley School in Taos. Then was supervisor of the Kinderkafig, the children's ski program at Taos Ski Valley for 3 years. Then managed Taos Valley Resort Association for 3 years, which made reservations for hotels, transportation, ski weeks, ski equipment, etc. for Taos Ski Valley and the Taos area. Spent a lot of time skiing, bicycling and windsurfing.
Met and fell in love with Rey Deveaux in 1987, who worked on the ski patrol at Taos Ski Valley. We started a bicycle shop in 1991, Gearing Up Bicycle Shop, in Taos. It was a complete shop, offering everything related to bicycling, including service and rentals. It was a very successful business, being in the heart of the beautiful Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and a big tourist area. We finally sold the bicycle shop in December of 2014, at which time I retired.
During the time we had the bicycle shop, we each worked six days a week
and very long hours. On my day off each week I lead a group road bike ride (30-60+ miles) each week. Rey and I trained and completed El Tucson Century Ride, and I trained for a triathlon in Colorado, but broke my foot in a freak accident the evening before the event!! We hiked all the mountain trails in the area, many, many times, and have enjoyed the beauty of the high desert and mountains immensely!
After selling the bicycle shop I was finally able to pursue my lifelong dream of art, painting and drawing. I was very sick from 2011 through early 2014. During that time, Rey built me a sweet little studio in our back yard. He recognized that my heart and soul needed to express itself in art. The year after retiring I completed about 100 paintings. I just couldn't get enough. My health improved immensely.
After retirement, Rey and I spent a week riding our bicycles through Provence, France, then a week in Paris. We spent a couple weeks in Costa Rica, then a week in Cuba. We have been spending a week each year in May with friends in Telluride, and going to the Telluride Mt. Film Festival.
Rey and I spent the last 12 months taking care of his Mom and her affairs. She has become blind, lost her hearing and has alzheimers. After taking her to assisted living, we cleared out her house (had 6 garage sales), completely cleaned and repaired everything, and rented it. She also had a small cabin at Taos Ski Valley. Rey and his friend replaced the septic system, we cleaned it up and sold it. We still spend a lot of time with her and take her to church, out to eat, and walking. She will be 95 in April.
My own dear mother passed away in 2008. She suffered with cancer for 4 years. She never lost her spirit; always interested in everyone else's story,
and even though she also had macular degeneration, she enjoyed reading and crossword puzzles. Her death left a huge hole in my heart.
Rey retired from Taos Ski Valley this ski season (2018/19)after 44 years on the Ski Patrol and we are enjoying spending time together, especially outdoors skiing, snowshoeing, hiking and we look forward to bicycling in the spring. We also plan to do more traveling!
