Lois R. Harris

Our mother, Nona (grandmother) and friend, Lois Ruth Stewart Harris passed away outside in her garden in Napa, California on October 23, 2024. She was 98 years old. Born on March 12, 1926, in Columbus, Ohio to Mabel and Sherman Stewart, Lois lived a life filled with friendship, family, and a joyful spirit. At the age of 12, Lois’ family moved to Hollywood, California. She lived in Pasadena, California when she married her husband Roy Thomas Harris Sr. in 1947. Roy and Lois relocated to Delano, California. Shortly after, their three children Roy T. Harris Jr., Kathleen R. Harris and Colleen R. Harris were born. Lois immersed herself in her community while living in Delano. She was active in her church, the Saint Mary’s Catholic School and the Women’s Club. In 1956 she was crowned Mrs. Delano and served in her role for one year. In 1957 the family relocated to Kingsburg, California where again Lois served her community volunteering for the PTA and working for the Chamber of Commerce. It was here that Lois learned to swim and played golf, a hobby that would become a passion for her and Roy. She was often found hitting balls at the course, where she relished the camaraderie and challenge of the game. She and Roy also started a family tradition that would end up spanning generations by taking the children camping at Grant’s Grove in Kings Canyon National Park where they would make yearly trips and created lifelong memories around a campfire. In 1971, Roy and Lois moved to Calistoga, California. Here Lois not only wrote for the local paper but continued golfing. She went on to win the Mt. St. Helena Women’s Club Golf championship multiple times. She also enjoyed the Calistoga scenery on foot becoming a gifted runner who completed a half marathon in 1974 coming in first in her age group. She also devoted her summers to running the art exhibit at the Napa County Fair for many years, often recruiting her grandchildren to come and help. Roy and Lois, later relocated to Napa, California where they would spend their retirement years. Along with being Roy’s caretaker after his stroke, Lois began volunteering at the Queen of The Valley Hospital. Here she made lifelong friends working in the same day surgery center. She was awarded Volunteer of the Year and received her 35-year service pin in 2023. Her role as a volunteer at the hospital truly brought joy to her life. She also enjoyed working full time at Mt. St. Helena Golf Course until its closure in 2020. Lois was also an avid gardener, finding joy in nurturing her plants and displaying her beautiful flowers for her neighbors, family and friends. Her garden was a vibrant reflection of her personality—colorful, thriving, and full of life. People would often comment on how beautiful her lawn and landscaping was, many not knowing that she herself mowed and cared for her yard daily until her very last day. Her family likes to think that she may have been the oldest driver in the Napa Valley, passing her license renewal test with flying colors at the age 98, an accomplishment that she was very proud of. Lois was an avid sports fan. She enjoyed watching her 49ers, Giants and Warriors on television and loved hearing about how her grandchildren and great grandchildren were doing in their respective sports. A highlight in recent years was attending a Warriors game on her 90th birthday where she was treated like a queen by the staff. She is preceded in death by her parents Mabel Marie Ryan and Sherman Sigsby Stewart, her stepmother, Ruth Stewart, her husband of almost 58 years, Roy, her daughter, Colleen, and great granddaughter Celeste Ibara. She is survived by her son, Roy Thomas Harris, Jr. (Tim) and his wife Dianne, her daughter Kathleen Rae Hartmann, and her son-in-law Allen S. Ibara, her 7 grandchildren Allen Harris Ibara, and Steven and Rosemary Ibara of San Carlos, Michelle Buljan of Truckee, Roy Thomas Harris III (Tom) and his wife Sarah, and Katie Pierson and her husband Chase in Texas, Patrick Charles Hartmann of Truckee, and Shannon Colleen Hartmann of Reno, Nevada. She is survived by her great grandchildren, Andrew Harris, Cameron Harris, Maddie Harris, Emmett Pierson, Bryce Pierson, and Noah Pierson, Hazel Ibara and Maxine Ibara. She is also survived by her nephews and their families including Michel Stalcup (Linda), John Riley Stalcup, Fred Hebein (Cindy), and Sherman Hebein (Donna). Lois was deeply loved, and will be missed. We want to thank all of her close friends including Carol Vorpahl and Gina Maya for making her life full. Thank you to her neighbors, Mel, for always being there and Troy for visiting and helping her with her smartphone and other gadgets. Lois got to live out her life independently in her own home on her own terms and that was her biggest wish in later life. She had a beautiful long life, but it still didn’t seem long enough for us. She will be deeply missed but fondly remembered for her unwavering spirit and the joy she brought to those around her. A celebration of Lois’s life will be held on November 16, at her residence. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Queen of the Valley Hospital in her honor.

Lois R. Harris

March 12, 1926 - October 23, 2024

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Lois R. Harris

March 12, 1926 - October 23, 2024

Obituary Notification

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