Nadine Maxine Farris

1932 - 2023

Nadine Farris passed away peacefully on June 29th, 2023, at the home of her daughter and son-in law, Debra and Jay Flora. Nadine spent the last years of her life in Louisville, Colorado close to the Flora family. She was fiercely independent and took great pride in living on her own. Nadine thoroughly enjoyed these years having close proximity to her family and being a part of everyone's daily lives.

Nadine Maxine Hathaway was born in Akron, Colorado on December 1, 1932 to Doron and Susie Hathaway. She was welcomed home by her sister, Edna, and their favorite dog, Freckles. She learned the value of being a contributing member of the family at an early age. She witnessed the steady efforts of her mom and dad's hard work to provide for their family and these lessons guided her life. Nadine enjoyed the advantages of having a large extended family in the community. She grew up surrounded by Grooms' family relatives and most Sundays included having Sunday dinner together.

Nadine spent most of her life in Akron. She attended Akron Schools and graduated with the class of 1950. Nadine was an extremely productive worker and had three careers during her adulthood with the most lasting and favorite being secretary to the principal at Akron High School. She held this position for thirty years. She was an important part of the school fabric with many far ranging duties, but none more important than offering a helping hand to a student in need of a friend. She appreciated the Akron families and getting to know multiple generations as they navigated the high school hallways. She took her position very seriously and worked hard to provide a friendly, professional environment at the front office for students, staff and visitors.

Being a mother was a role Nadine cherished and she had very close relationships with both of her children, Timothy Doron Johnson and Debra Sue Flora. In 1967, she married William "Chet" Farris. Chet and Nadine enjoyed working in their yard and spent many hours together in that endeavor. Nadine especially looked forward to traveling with Chet and the Y-W Board of Directors for an annual convention they attended every year. She also loved to travel with her two best friends, Doris Duncan and Juanita Steinke. They had many escapades traveling together through the years.

Nadine made many trips to California to see her son, Tim, playing the piano and singing at various venues throughout the southern part of the state. She and Debbie had many "mother-daughter" adventures as well, including a visit to Switzerland. Her grandsons, Dylan Flora and Daniel Flora, were truly the highlights of her life. She spent a great deal of time with the boys making them her top priority. She hosted them in Akron frequently and drove to Boulder for all birthday parties, holidays, sporting events, piano recitals, graduations, etc. She especially delighted in family vacations with the Flora family. Dylan and Daniel learned many wonderful lessons from their "Nano" and are forever grateful for her wisdom, guidance, patience and unconditional love. She was their biggest advocate and confidant.

Nadine was preceded in death by her parents, Doron and Susie Hathaway; her husband, Chet Farris; her beloved son, Tim Johnson; and step daughter, Sue Elliott.

She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Edna and Bob Norwood; daughter and son-in-law, Debra and Jay Flora; her grandsons, Dylan Flora and Daniel Flora; nephews, Mike Norwood and wife Terri, Jeff Norwood and wife Lori, and their families; step-grandchildren, Lonny Elliott and wife Heidi, Jay Elliott, Tina Elliott-Meese and their families; and many dear cousins from the Grooms family.

A Celebration of Life event will be held August 30th, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. at the Washington County Event Center at the Akron Fairgrounds. Memorial donations, in Nadine's name, may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, stjude.org.