Lee McDaniel

Lee Kenneth McDaniel passed away on May 29, 2014 at the age of 86. He was born to Jacob and Faye (Bishop) McDaniel on July 8, 1927 in Great Bend, KS. He attended elementary school in LaCross, KS and graduated high school from Hutchinson High School. He served two years in the army during the Korean War. When he returned from the war, he attended Fort Hays State University and graduated in 1960 with a Bachelor’s in Speech and in 1972 with a Master’s of Science in Education. He retired from teaching in 1994 after 30 years.

In 1958 he wed Mary Alice Conard at the Presbyterian Church in Hoxie, KS. To this union were born three daughters, Shannon Kelley, Heather Bracht and Elisabeth Rall.

The most important thing in his life was teaching, whether his students or his family. He was a wonderful husband and father, a good role model and his children and grandchildren’s greatest fan. He never had an unkind word to say about anyone, always seeing the best. He loved entertaining for friends and family with homemade meals that were always thoroughly enjoyed. He taught himself to sew and made many doll clothes for daughters and nieces, bridesmaid’s dresses and most clothing worn by his wife and daughters. Knitting was also something enjoyed, creating many afghan’s, sweaters and Christmas stockings for extended family. He had an extensive reading and music library and often could be found enjoying both. After moving to Hoxie in 2005, he enjoyed helping others with cards and bingo at the Long Term Care, playing cards at Ridgewood Manor and working crossword puzzles.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jacob and Faye (Bishop) McDaniel, his sister and brother-in-law Thelma and Maurice Brown, his four brothers and their spouses, Ray and Sal McDaniel, Arthur and Marian McDaniel, Bill and Emma Lou McDaniel, Wayne and Myrtle McDaniel, his wife Mary, a grandson Christopher Slone and a sister-in-law and brother-in-law Bill and Reta (Conard) Samples. He is survived by his three daughters, Shannon Kelley of Godfrey, IL, Heather and husband Ron Bracht and Lisa and husband Doug Rall, all of Hoxie, former son-in-law Jeff Kelley and his wife Karen, six grandchildren, Jeremy and Vicki Kelley of O’Fallon, MO, Courtney and Tean Sukrisnual and Ryan Kelley and girlfriend Robin Carrington of Godfrey, IL, Jacob Bracht, and Lucas Bracht both of Hoxie, KS and Clayton and Megan Rall of Albuquerque, NM, six great-grandchildren, Brendan Kelley, TylerVelazquez and Megan Velazquez of O’Fallon, MO, Destiny Slone of Wood River, IL; Mina Sukrisnual of Godfrey, IL and Brandan Rall of Albuquerque, NM, sister-in-law and brother-in-laws Bob and Shirley (Conard) Samples, Evan and Carol (Conard) Wilson and Ed and Pat (Zodrow) Conard and many nieces, nephews and friends.

He will be greatly missed by all who knew him for his love of life and for being “the nicest man I know.”

Family will receive friends Wednesday, June 4, 2014 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at the Mickey Leopold Funeral Home. The family will receive friends on Saturday, June 7, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. until service time at Elias-Kallal-Schaaf Funeral Home, in Godfrey, Illinois. Memorial Services will be at 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home with full military rites by the Alton VFW Post 1308 Ritual Team. Final resting place is Valhalla Memorial Park in Godfrey, IL.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to First Presbyterian Church, Ridgewood Manor or the Food Pantry, all in Hoxie, KS c/o Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, PO Box 987, Hoxie, KS 67740. Online Condolences may be left for the family at www.mickeyleopoldfuneral.com