Carmen Harris

Obituary CARMEN HARRIS Carmen was born August 17, 1950 from the union of Ernest J. and Marjorie L. Collins. Carmen was called by her middle name, Diane, but was affectionately known as “Dee Dee” by her family. She attended public school in Kansas City, Missouri and graduated from Central High School in 1968. She then attended Penn Valley Community College and was later employed by Sears Roebuck, & Company in the accounting department. After graduation, Diane married James E. Smith and from this union her first born son, James Edward Smith, Jr. (aka Choo Choo) was born. After the painful dissolution of marriage, she later gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Cherita Danielle Oliver. Both of her children were the love of Diane’s life. In 1997, a newfound love came into Diane’s life and on August 23, 1997, she married Jimmy Lee Harris. Jim was devoted to Diane and honored his vows to her “in sickness and in health….til death do you part.” He loved her til the end. Diane gave her life to the Lord and became a member of New Life In Christ International Ministries. She served at one time in the Usher Ministry and worked as a nursery teacher and cook for Life A-New Preparatory Academy. She was a sweet-spirited woman, a loving wife, mother, and daughter. Diane had a great sense of humor and was THE GREAT COMMUNICATOR” of the family. Being the oldest child, she kept all of her siblings and family “in the know” and on the right track. We always knew where we could get the “411”. She loved her family and she will be missed by each of us. Diane was loved and cherished by all and was preceded in death by her father, Ernest J. Collins. She is survived by her mother, Marjorie Collins; husband, Jimmy Harris; son, James E. Smith, Jr. (Dallas, TX); daughter, Cherita Nimrod (Edward); 2 step-sons, Michael Harris & Jimmy Harris (Los Angeles, CA) brother, Darryl Collins (Nedra); 3 sisters, Gaile Johnson (Dallas, TX); Lisa Wesley (Keith) and Stephanie Collins; 2 granddaughters, Jamille and Corinne; 3 grandsons, Micah, Milan, and Deven, and a hosts of aunts, cousins, nieces, and nephews. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 1, 2020 at New Life Church in Grandview, Mo. Visitation 9:00 a.m. Interment 10:00 a.m. Monday, February 3, 2020 in Leavenworth National Cemetery. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Carmen Harris, please visit our floral store. Read More

Carmen Harris

January 30, 2020