Jimmie Lee Mcdaniel

Jimmie Lee McDaniel, age 96, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2024. He was born in Amarillo, Texas, and grew up during the Depression and World War II. Upon graduation from high school, Jimmie joined the Army and served during the final phase of World War II. He was stationed in Japan and served as a cryptologist supporting General MacArthur’s headquarters in Tokyo. He later transferred to Okinawa and served there until his discharge on August 14, 1947.

Jimmie returned to the United States and joined his parents who were residing in White Rock, New Mexico. He enrolled in college at New Mexico A&M, currently at New Mexico State University. It was there that a lovely coed asked him to have a coke with her after class. They dated for about a year and decided to get married. Jimmie married Lee Louis McSpadden during his sophomore year on April 30, 1949. They had a happy marriage for 70 years and raised their three children, Johnny, Danny, and Lee Ann.

Jimmie was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army upon graduation with a baccalaureate degree in accounting. He remained in the Army reserves for 2 years before resigning his commission. He took the family on a vacation trip to Freeport, Texas to visit Lee’s father. While he was there, he filled out an application at Dow Chemical Company. The owner of Wilson Equipment Company saw the application and hired Dad. The family moved to Freeport in 1954 and lived there until 1961 when Hurricane Carla demolished their home. Jimmie moved the family to Lake Jackson, Texas, and remained there until his retirement in 1986.

Jimmie loved playing with his children and raised them in a wonderful Christian home. He introduced the boys to golf and took up the game himself so they could all play together. As his children had children, his face would break into a smile whenever one of the kids would enter the room. He was always the first to hold a baby and would play with all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was the epitome of a father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and was always willing to do anything for anyone in his family.

Jimmie was preceded in death by his wife Lee Louise McDaniel; parents, Wilmer T McDaniel and Bessie Grady McDaniel; his sister Charlotte Gould, grandson Stephen McDaniel; son-in-law, Vic Larocca; and daughter-in-law Astrid Karen McDaniel. He is survived by his children; Johnny McDaniel and wife Debbie, Danny McDaniel and wife Patty, and Lee Ann Larocca; grandchildren Alex West and wife Carol, Corrin Graham and husband Venado, Hailey West, Sarah Garza and husband Chris, Andrew McDaniel, Jamie McDaniel, and Austin McDaniel; great-grandchildren, Raelyn Peddy, Azlee Peddy, Kathryn West, and Elizabeth West.

A memorial service will be held at First Methodist Church in Willis, Texas. The date and time will be posted when they become available