Nina Diaz Harris

Nina Diaz Harris, age 96, passed away peacefully on Thursday July 27, 2023 with her family by her side.  Nina was born on September 2, 1926 in Coalgate, OK., the daughter of James and Juanita Diaz.  Nina graduated from Coalgate, OK High School in 1940.  Nina married the love of her life, Schuyler Lot Harris, November 5, 1947 and were married for 24 years.  She graduated from Madison Area Technical College in May 9, 1977 with a degree in Food Preparation Assisting.

Nina is survived by five children: Ronald (Ivy) Harris, Patricia (Joel) Hummel, John (Gloria) Harris, Harriet (James) Schroud, and Melanie (Robert) Gollon; 23 Grandchildren: Leticia (Kris) Grove, Carrie (Marcel) Shaw, Annelisa (Zac) Harris-McArthur; Joel (Ploy) Sherman, Charles, Andrew, and Robbie Harris, Holly (Hector) Garcia, Mary (Paul) Fitzpatrick, Jessica (John) Gray, Kenneth (Mollie) Law, Raymond (Heather) Harris, Racheal Kurt, Chad, and Caryn Schroud, Charyl (Scott) Schlieger, and Jacob, Adam (Stephanie), Amanda (Jr), Tyler Raley, Tanner, and Katie Gollon. 25 great-grandchildren: Stanley Task, Adrian (Yolanda) Edge, Alexis (Aaron) Davis, Conner, Schuyler Woodyard, Christopher Scott, Toby, Abigale Hutto, Finley Ihli, Parker Harris, Sierra, Raynee, and Isabel Garcia, Chace Johnson, Weston Law, Addiley Harris, Izabel, Wyatt Schlieger, Jazmine and Madison Raley, Jaylen, Reece, Carson, and Gavin Persinger.  2 great-great Grandsons: Aden and Artemis Edge.

Nina was a very active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints since 1960 for over 63 years.  She always had her favorite pew she sat in.  Nina had many jobs in her life; most in the food industry- from Red’s Mobil lunch to cooking for a fraternity Alpha Delta Phi at the University of Wisconsin.  She enjoyed having that special relationship with all those boys.  Her favorite job, she told us, was when she was the cook at Red Arrow Camp where she met Chris Farley who was always playing jokes on her. 

She lived her life to the fullest and always reminded us girls that it was okay to be ourselves.   She was loved by all who met her and she was never afraid to speak her mind, and she passed that great gift to most of her children and grandchildren which usually resulted in us getting into trouble for it!

Nina loved cooking and baking and decorating cakes, and I mean for all occasions.  Her greatest joy was when she was making quilts, and for all those who were fortunate to get those beautiful blankets, they will cherish them. She still had four more to make that she manage to finish.  She made a ton of baby blankets for all those precious little ones.  She loved and cherished all her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  She was a very avid Green Bay Packer football fan, and win or lose, she would call and say “How 'bout those Packers."

While going through some of her things, we found her report card and found out she got a “C” in home economics...now isn’t that a hoot?!

Nina was preceded in death by her husband Schuyler Harris; parents James and Juanita Diaz; brothers and sisters; three grandsons Jason Daniel Law, Chessie James Johnson, and Chris Johnson; and 1 great granddaughter Milana Grace Harris.

We want to thank all the ladies from the Relief Society from the church for all their help and to all the visitor that came to spend time with her those visits were special to her up until the very end.  We want to also thank Agrace Hospice for their compassionate care in the final days of Nina’s life.

Visitation will be from 10-11:00 am on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6651 Prairie View Drive, Sun Prairie, WI 53950 with the service to begin at 11:00 am.  Nina will be brought to her final place of rest at Lutheran East Cemetery, 200 CTH N, Stoughton, WI following the service at the church.   Friends are welcome to join the family back at the church for a luncheon after the burial services.

Cress Funeral Home Sun Prairie

608-837-9054