Daniel Ellis Daniel, 83, passed away peacefully on December 7, 2015 at Summit Pacific Medical Center in Elma, WA after a battle with cancer.

Dan was born on November 9, 1932 in Johnson County, Arkansas to Daniel “Webb” Daniel and Dorothy Killough Daniel. He grew up in Arkansas as the youngest of 8 siblings and graduated from Lamar High School in 1950. He joined the Air Force in the fall of 1950 and served in Texas, California and Alaska before returning to Arkansas in 1953. He then moved to McCleary, WA where he met his wife, Forrest Ann McCully and they were married on June 30, 1956. Dan and Forrest Ann lived in McCleary with their 4 children until they moved to Summit Lake in 1987. She passed away in 2009.

He began working at the Simpson Door Co. and retired from Simpson in 1995.

He could often be found spending time with family and participating at the Masonic Lodge. Later in life, he enjoyed frequenting the Elma Senior Center with his friend Dee and eating at Izzi’s Pizza in Lacey where he was considered a friend and always had a special table reserved for him. Dan also enjoyed traveling and rarely missed his annual visit to Arkansas during the 60+ years that he lived in Washington. He also enjoyed trips to visit his daughter in Texas. He was warm, full of wit and always maintained a hint of his southern accent despite his move north. He is already deeply missed.

He is survived by his children: Teena (Tommy) Mathis of Harlingen, TX, Leta (Rick) Keel of McCleary, WA, Bill Daniel of McCleary, WA and Stan (Margaret) Daniel of Olympia, WA. He is also survived by his sisters Nita (Herman) Lewis and Wanda Pearson of Arkansas; 9 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by daughter Leslie Vessey.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 11, 2015 at 1:00pm at the United Methodist Church in McCleary. Burial will take place at McCleary Cemetery, McCleary, WA with military honors. A reception will follow.

The family suggests that donation be made to McCleary United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 588, McCleary, WA 98557.

A message of condolence or of a memory can be sent to the family at www.fernhillfuneral.com

Arrangements are entrusted to Twibell’s Fern Hill Funeral Home in Aberdeen, WA.