Diane Carol Harvey

It is with much sadness that we announce the passing of our Mema, Diane (Cruz) Harvey on June 15, 2026. Diane was one of six children born to Carlos Cruz Sr and Luella Cruz on April 13,1944. She was raised in the two little white houses on E California Ave by her parents, her aunt Honey and her Grandma Paula and Grandpa Joe. She attended Mt. Vernon Elementary School, Sierra Jr High and graduated from East Bakersfield High School in 1962 where she was a majorette in the marching band. She attended Lufkin School of Business which led to a lifetime career as a bookkeeper at Pioneer Mercantile Company on N St in downtown Bakersfield. She retired from Pioneer in 2002 after 57 years of service. She then went to work at Sumner Lawnmower Repair as a bookkeeper which she owned with her husband Jim Harvey. With his love of racing and expertise in the business, Mema started racing riding lawnmowers on a dirt track in Glen nville CA. She was easily recognized on the track by her orange lawnmower #13 with the letters MEMA across the front and big sharp teeth in the grill. She won many trophies, some taller than she was! She met many people and made many friends through racing. She raced for about ten years when a Parkinson's diagnosis made her tap the brakes. She finally slowed down when She lost her husband of 35 years in 2015.

Rather than live alone, she moved in first with her granddaughter Brooke where she was surrounded by love and the company of her great granddaughter Riley. She loved to spend her days with Riley and watching old I Love Lucy episodes, Westerns and her favorite black and white movies with Jimmy Stewart. As her illness progressed, she moved in with her daughter Lisa where she was loved and cared for by the entire family, Lisa, Adam, Brooke, Zoe and Caiden until her last day.

Diane is survived by three children, Lisa, Wayne and Betsy, and several grandchildren and great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband Jim Harvey, her son Montie, and her two brothers, Carl and Bobby.

Mema, you've taken the checkered flag once again. We take comfort in knowing that you are being welcomed by all the people you loved here that have gone home before you.

Special thanks to her dear friend Rubi for all the time you spent with her and to the nurses at Hoffman Hospice for your care. She considered you friends.

Services will be held on June 23, 2026 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, 12300 Reina Rd., Bakersfield, CA 93312. Recitation of the Rosary will take place at 9:30 AM with a Funeral Mass immediately following. Burial will take place at Hillcrest Memorial Park, 9101 Kern Canyon Rd., Bakersfield, CA 93306 at 11:30 AM.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital.