Daisy Ruth Nicholas, of Leesburg, passed away surrounded by her loved ones at 9:17 p.m. on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at her residence at the age of 79.

Daisy Nicholas

She was born on Jan. 27, 1944, in Elwood, Ind., to Ina Ruth LaVerne (Cunningham) Burris and Robert Limen Burris. On June 20, 1964, she was married to James “Jim” Allen Nicholas. They were blessed with two sons and 53 years of marriage together before Jim passed away on April 4, 2018.

Daisy earned her master’s degree in teaching from Ball State University. She loved children, watching them learn and found her calling as a teacher. She worked at Lincoln Elementary School in Warsaw. Daisy also founded her own business doing what she loved and taught at her Pumpkin Patch Day Care. Later in life she helped grow the family business with her husband and her sons, N.G. Instruments in Warsaw, manufacturing orthopedic cutting tools, followed by Nicholas Precision Works. One of Daisy’s passions was her extraordinary garden; with her green thumb she could grow anything. Her favorite job in her lifetime was simply being “Mom,” and later in life she loved being a grandmother. She dearly loved her family and will forever be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother and sister. Her caring heart and smiling face will be dearly missed.

She leaves behind her two sons, Tony (Mary) Nicholas, Warsaw, and Tim Nicholas, Dyersburg, Tenn.; four grandchildren, Zachary and Abby Nicholas, Warsaw, and Landan Benthal and Harper Nicholas, Dyersburg, Tenn. Also surviving is her brother, James Allen (Kathy) Burris, Elwood; and her brother-in-law, Don (Jan) Nicholas, Anderson, Ind. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.

Daisy’s life will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw. Burial will follow with a graveside service at Oakwood Cemetery of Warsaw. Friends and family may visit prior to the service from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the funeral home.

The family has requested that donations in Daisy’s memory be directed to Kosciusko County Community Foundation Inc., 102 E. Market St., Warsaw, IN 46580, designated in the memo line to “Kosciusko County Riley Kids Fund,” or to Kosciusko County Community Foundation Inc., 102 E. Market St., Warsaw, IN 46580 to go toward its general fund.

Online condolences may be sent through the funeral home’s website at www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com.