James Harrold Daniel

James Harrold Daniel

On September 3, 2016, Jim Daniel passed away peacefully in Beaumont, Texas, after a long fulfilling life. Jim was visited by his son, Jay Daniel, daily, and his other children, grandchildren, and family in the week before his death. Jim was 91 years old. He was born on April 3, 1925, in Grapevine, Texas, to Jesse Jackson Daniel and LLora Lindsay Daniel. He was the seventh child of a family of eight.  Jim spent his early years working on the family farm, growing cotton, in Grapevine. He served as a Radioman in the Navy in World War II, from April, 1944, to the end of the Great War. Jim served in the Pacific theater, from the battle of Leyte Gulf, to the landings in the Philippines, and in Japan in October of 1945. 

Following his time of service, Jim married Cecelia June Moore in Grapevine in September 16, 1948. He attended North Texas State in Denton, Texas, on the GI Bill, earning a Bachelor’s degree and later an MS degree in Education. Jim’s first career was an educator, working in Aransas Pass, Texas, and then in Deer Park ISD, where he served as a teacher, principal, and an administrator and tax accessor for many years. Jim retired from Deer Park in 1985. He and June raised their family of six in the Deepwater community in Pasadena, Texas, and were members of Eastminster Presbyterian Church, where Jim served as an Elder and Deacon. He was also active with the Boy Scouts, led a Sea Scout troop in Aransas Pass, and led his scouts in the early adventures of camping and clearing trails in 1954 at the Philmont Scout Ranch, in New Mexico.   

Upon his retirement from DPISD, Jim and June moved to Italy, Texas, where June continued to teach for a few years. Jim started a tax preparation business, was a builder, and plumber.  In Italy, he and June also organized the Italian Festival for several seasons, bringing in opera from Dallas, and fun and games to the community in Italy.  After June retired from teaching, they moved to “Daniel’s Last Resort”, their mountain cabin in Silverthorne, Colorado. Jim and June started construction on the beloved family cabin in the summer of 1959, where they spent every summer in the mountains with the family, and where the family continues to enjoy time. 

Jim was preceded in death by his wife, June, and a grandson, Zane Nordin.  He is survived by his six children and their spouses; Danna and Charles Bonds, Connie and Lauro Montalvo, Jay and Cynthia Daniel, Marc and Carrie Daniel, Ladd and Lezlie Daniel, Julie and Don Nordin,  11 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren. Jim is also survived by a brother, George Daniel, his sister-in-law Olga Baker of Friendswood, Texas, and his brother-in-law Jerry Moore and wife, Linda, of Kerrville, Texas. 

His funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, September 10, 2016, at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 2119 Avalon Place, Houston, under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. Jim will be laid to rest with Navy honors beside his beloved, June, at 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, September 13, 2016, at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzback Road, San Antonio.  

Friends who wish may direct memorial contributions to the Texas Democratic Party, P.O. Box 116, Austin, Texas 78676 or to an organization of one’s choice.