George Edward Daniel, Sr. died Friday, June 14, 2013, at the age of 81. He was surrounded by family at home, in a hospital bed overlooking the pasture as was his wish. George was born on December 16, 1931, in Beaumont, to George Oscar Daniel and Ada Mae (Gates) Daniel. He married Vaudene Walters on January 5, 1952, and had been married over sixty-one years. It was her devotion and commitment that allowed him to remain at home and to live his last days on the same piece of land he had lived all his life. The well from which he drew water as a child was just feet from his front door.
He grew from a Southeast Texas pioneer family. His ancestors along with the Bevil family and others established the Church of Christ congregation in Kountze, in 1886, the year before Kountze was designated as the county seat of Hardin County. He and his family worshipped at that church for many years.
He was stricken by polio as a very young child and as was the custom at that time was sent away from home for treatment. His spirit was not broken but he was left with a limp all his life and been plagued with late life complications for several years. Polio slowed him down but never stopped him. He started working in Howard Barrington’s grocery store while in school in the late 40’s. George began work in the oil filed right out of high school as a roughneck and advanced to driller’s position remaining in the oil field until 1960. He went to work for Ideco in Beaumont, in 1960, where he remained working until his retirement in 1986. George continued doing occasional contract work for CONEX and Temple Inland after his retirement because he loved machinist tasks, was good at it and he couldn’t find enough otherwise to keep him occupied.
He loved gardening, camping, fishing, hunting, raising livestock, playing 42, and family gatherings that always included more pranks than some could gracefully handle. In late times, after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s after having survived colon cancer and melanoma, he sat in a chair in his own world and supervised all outdoor activity.
George is preceded in death by his father, George Oscar Daniel; mother, Ada Mae (Gates) Daniel; son, James Edward Daniel; sisters, Jack (Daniel) Latil, Georgie Lee (Daniel) Dudley, Alma (Flowers) Davis; and brother, Dan “D.J.” Flowers.
He is survived by his wife, Vaudene Daniel; daughter, Sandra (Daniel) Crosby and her husband, Jody, of Kountze; son, George E. “Eddie” Daniel, Jr. and his wife, Jane, of Kountze; grandchildren, Danny Crosby and his wife, Sheree, of Kountze; Jamey Crosby and his wife, Alison, of Willis; Hannah Daniel of Huntsville; and Heather (Daniel) Edgar and her husband, Joel, of Vidor; and great-grandsons, Joseph “J.J.” Crosby and Samuel Crosby, both of Kountze, Benjamin Crosby, Noah Crosby, and Dominic Crosby, all of Willis.
A gathering of Mr. Daniel’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., Sunday, June 16, 2013, at Cornerstone Baptist Church, 1600 Pine, Kountze. His funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Monday, June 17, 2013, at Cornerstone Baptist Church, with interment to follow at Daniel Cemetery, Kountze, under the direction of Broussard’s, 530 West Monroe, Kountze.
During his last months of his life the Alzheimer’s took its greatest toll on him, his constant concern, desire, and continual pursuit was to “go home and check on Daddy”. We are confident he is satisfied today.
The family has requested that memorial contributions be made in Mr. Daniels' name to The Alzheimers Association, 700 North Street Suite M, Beaumont, Texas 77701 or The 100 Club of Southeast Texas, P. O. Box 3405, Beaumont, Texas 77704.
