Nancy Harris

Nancy Noalene (Cain) Harris died peacefully at her home in McKinney, Texas, on March 12, 2024, at age 84.  Nancy was born on January 4, 1940, in Muenster, Texas, to Sam Cain and Lillian Taylor (Cain) McFarland. Nancy graduated from North Side High School in Fort Worth, Texas in 1957.

On November 7, 1958, Nancy married Thomas Donald Harris, who was nine years older than Nancy.  They were partners in marriage for 43 years, until Tom Sr.’s death in December 2001.  Together, they raised five children: Cathy L. Harris Smith (spouse Dennis, deceased) of Boerne, Texas; Amy S. Harris of McKinney, Texas; Tom. D. Harris, Jr. (spouse Michelle), of Dallas, Texas; Julie K. Harris Mendonsa (spouse Robert) of Kijabe, Kenya; and Jay R. Harris (spouse Monika) of Murphy, Texas.  Nancy has eight grandchildren and (at present) eight great-grandchildren.

Nancy’s children remember her as a devoted mother who wanted the best for her children (but who also had high expectations for their behavior). Nancy made every holiday special, threw fantastic birthday parties (even on a limited budget), built a large social network alongside her substantial home-front duties, was an exceptional (recipe-not-required) cook, and seemed to lead every organization (from Sunday school classes and women’s Bible studies to the PTA and school booster clubs).

Nancy seemingly never slept, but she also never appeared harried or frazzled.

Nancy built a stable homelife for her family through moves dictated by Tom Sr.’s career: from Richland Hills, Texas, to Lubbock, Texas (1970); from Lubbock to Lafayette (San Francisco) California, (1975); and from California to McKinney, Texas (1980). Nancy moved her large family as a cohesive unit, never letting anyone spin out of the family’s orbit (even when Cathy graduated high school in California and started college in Lubbock and even when Amy stayed behind one semester to finish high school in California).

Nancy decided as a young woman she would build the type of homelife she experienced only occasionally as a child. Nancy’s kids remember Saturday evenings at home when they were young, with everyone engaged in the family’s preparations for church the next morning—Tom Sr. polishing shoes, the girls taking turns under an old-style dome hairdryer, Nancy organizing church clothes, and all the kids practicing their Sunday School memory verses and completing church-offering envelopes. Nancy’s children never heard Nancy and Tom Sr. utter a harsh word to each other.  At home, Nancy and Tom Sr. never referred to each other by proper name. Tom Sr. called Nancy “Angel” and she always called him “Sweetheart.”

Nancy’s kids always knew of her unconditional love for them—which spurred them to try to justify her fierce pride in them. Nancy would do anything for her family, including trying parasailing and white water rafting (even though Nancy never learned to swim)!

Nancy was notably bright and perceptive, always keen to learn something new.  She wanted each of her children (and later, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren) to take advantage of their opportunities for higher education.  Nancy and Tom Sr. sponsored (and funded) nine college and post-graduate degrees earned by their children.  As her children approached college age, Nancy returned to the workforce (as a legal assistant) to help fund college expenses.

Nancy’s life consistently demonstrated her sincere, unshakeable confidence in the promise of salvation through, and a full life in, Jesus Christ.  Nancy and Tom Sr. were active members in a Baptist church everywhere they lived.  For Nancy, “active” meant attending as a family every time the church doors were open—and making sure the whole family participated in every activity the church offered.  Nancy’s family knew she spent time daily in her own Bible study and in prayer.

In recent years, Nancy’s health declined, but her beautiful spirit and demeanor persisted.  Nancy’s extended family is deeply grateful for the special service provided to Nancy by her daughter Amy, Nancy’s devoted caregiver.  Amy provided this loving service with the faithful help of a wonderful team, which over the years included Barbara Holland, Daina Simango and Jairia Banks. Nancy’s family also is grateful for the exceptional care provided to Nancy by her long-time physician, Dr. Raymon Aggarwal.

Nancy’s family will host a Memorial Service to celebrate her meaningful life at 11:00 AM on March 22, 2024, in the chapel at Cottonwood Creek Church, 1015 Sam Rayburn Tollway, Allen, Texas (reception immediately following). Nancy’s body has been laid to rest next to Tom Sr.’s body at the historic Eakins Cemetery in Ponder, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to either of two charities about which Nancy cared: Naomi’s Village (if you wish, a gift to the orphanage and school Julie and Bob Mendonsa founded in Kenya, can be given at https://shorturl.at/mFHOP ) or Side-by-Side (if you wish, a gift to this Special Needs ministry founded by Cathy Smith at First Baptist Church Boerne, can be given at https://www.fbcboerne.org/give/ , use the button for Give Online and then use the drop-down menu for Side-by-Side Ministry).

The Christian faith Nancy and Tom Sr. modeled reassures all of Nancy’s family and friends that Nancy has passed successfully through the final test of faith and is restored to her true self, reunited with Tom Sr., in the presence of God.