Mary E. (Harris) Daniels

Mary Elizabeth (Harris) Daniels was born in 1932 in Rogers, Arkansas to Samuel Roger and Cora (Williams) Harris.   She passed away on Monday, March 25, 2024 at the Rock County Hospital Long Term Care in Bassett, Nebraska at the age of 91 years six months and 19 days.    

                Mary grew up in a rural area along side her three siblings and enjoyed hiking, hunting, fishing, exploring caves, and other outdoor activities.  After graduating from high school, her desire to be a nurse took her to Lincoln, Nebraska where she attended Union College by working in the college broom and furniture factory to pay for her schooling.  Upon graduating, her nursing career was put on hold and she went to work at the Russell Stover Candy Factory.  Yes, they were allowed to eat the candy. Not long after, she met Duane Daniels and they were married in 1954. After a brief move to Elsmere, Nebraska on the Daniels’ family ranch, a daughter and son were born. The family eventually settled in Ainsworth, Nebraska in 1959.  Mary went to work as one of the very first employees of what is now the Sandhills Care Center.  In addition to raising a family, she worked as a welder, a flagger for the Dept. of Roads, working in the tree nursery at the Halsey Forest, and in the potato fields.   Later in life, a dream of working in the healthcare industry was realized when she became an EMT for the Brown County Ambulance service.  Mary was a life-long member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and her faith was very important to her.  She held several different positions in the church and was also active in many of the youth activities.  

                In her spare moments, Mary spent time gardening and growing flowers along side her husband. She spent tireless hours harvesting, canning, and sharing the produce with others.  She enjoyed close-up photography of butterflies and flowers and loved to travel, spending time with family and friends.  She also continued her love of hunting, fishing, and camping while combing the Niobrara canyons for wild turkeys.  Rock hunting was another passion.  She had a deep and abiding love for nature and took in numerous injured or homeless birds and animals, as well as cats.  Mary was deeply committed to her family, faith, and prayer, which sustained her always.  Her generosity extended to many charities and organizations and she and her husband took in other children of families who had suffered misfortune and needed extra help or a permanent home.  She was a strong, independent, kind, gentle and generous human being and loved to laugh.  She will be sorely missed.

                Mary was preceded in death by her husband Duane Daniels; son Danny Daniels; parents Samuel and Cora Harris; brothers James Harris, John Harris and his wife, Carol and Joe Mac Harris. She was also preceded in death by her sister Ruth Martin and her husband, Walter;  a foster son John Kaeding and his wife, Alice; and son-in-law John LeMay.  Mary is survived by her daughter Brenda LeMay, daughter-in-law Teri Daniels both of Ainsworth; sister-in-law Evelyn Harris of Arkansas; extended family member Becky Gustafson and her husband, Gary of Lincoln, Nebraska; along with eight grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

                Funeral Services were held on Friday, March 29, 2024 at the Hoch Funeral Home in Ainsworth with Mike Baxter officiating.   Music was provided by Mike and Linn Baxter with the song “In The Garden” being sung.  Casketbearers were George Mizner, David Mizner, Gary Gustafson, Don Coash, Eddy Daniels and Mike Baxter.   In lieu of flowers, memorials were suggested to the Brown County Ambulance Association or the Ainsworth Volunteer Fire Department in Mary’s name.   Interment was in the Ainsworth Cemetery under the direction of the Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth.  Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hochfuneralhome.com.