Verdeenia Daisy Harris, age 87, passed away on October 2, 2024, in Turlock, CA. Born on November 16, 1936, in Maricopa, AZ, and raised in Turlock, CA, she lived a life marked by devotion to her family, a passion for the outdoors including hunting, and a successful career in construction and property management.
Verdeenia cherished the time spent with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is survived by her husband, James Harris; her son, Darin Nelle; daughters-in-law, Rebecca and Laura; sister, Wanetta Gregory; brother, Ted Harris; grandchildren, Steven, Patrick, Brittany, Blake, and Brent; and great-grandchildren, Logan, Max, Jackson, Casen, Riley, Cameron, Savannah, Pierce, Rowan, and Audrey. She was predeceased by her parents, Elmer and Edith Harris; her son, Christian; brother, Monty; and grandchild, Ryan.
Educated locally, Verdeenia attended Hawthorne Elementary and Turlock High School, later attending Clovis High School. She initially embraced the role of a homemaker and later took on the management of the family’s 28-acre almond farm in Delhi, CA. Her entrepreneurial spirit flourished as she earned a general contractor’s license and went on to build residential homes in Turlock. Together with her husband, she developed a 20-unit apartment complex that they managed until her passing.
Verdeenia attended Bethel Temple Church in Turlock and later Richland Faith Church. Her hobbies included arts and crafts, and gardening, where she took joy in watching her plants blossom. Verdeenia loved anything red and enjoyed always having her hair done and nails polished. She was also known to engage in the occasional drag race in her younger years.
A service to celebrate Verdeenia’s life will be held on Friday, October 11, at 10 am at Richland Faith Church in Modesto, CA. All are welcome.
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