Our beloved Mildred “Louise” McDaniel, 88, of Campbell, Texas departed this world peacefully surrounded by her family on December 18, 2020.
She was born in Ridgeway, Texas on December 4, 1932, to Elmer Clay Clemmons and Lottie Marie Fleenor Clemmons.
Louise, aka “Ma” to those who knew and loved her well, leaves behind her husband, Virgil A. McDaniel, who stood steadfastly by her side for 73 years and five months. Louise, wearing her favorite color pink, was just 15 and Virgil 18 when they married in Rockwall, Texas, on July 18, 1948.
Famous homemaker Martha Stewart has nothing on Louise, who had a passion for keeping a spotless home, cooking, gardening, and creating beautiful floral arrangements. Unlike Martha, however, Louise also fished, rode four-wheelers and dirt bikes, and took motorcycle treks through Oklahoma and Texas. And anyone who knew her knew she was good at it all.
She was a good friend and great buddy to Virgil. When Covid-19 prevented him from being able to visit Ma in the nursing home, he would not be kept away. He visited her outside her window every day, taking her pup Katie along each time.
Ma and Virgil went on a good number of adventures together, many of them spur-of-the moment trips to Red River, New Mexico. Their greatest adventure, however, was raising their two children, Steve and Karen. When granddaughters Ashley and Taylor were born, they were a new source of pride that deepened through the years. Both girls remember precious talks filled with Ma’s wisdom, talks that sometimes went late into the night
Welcoming her home to the next life was her son, Steve, whom she patiently waited 45 years to see again. Also eagerly awaiting her arrival were her parents, Elmer and Lottie, nephew David, her loyal dog Frito, and many other friends and family members lost along the way.
She is survived by her daughter, Karen Perkins and husband Mike; granddaughter Ashley Roberts Davies and husband Jacob; granddaughter Taylor Perkins Stewart and husband Joseph; great-granddaughter Rylie Stewart; sister Rosemary “Rosie” Morris and husband Don; and her sweet little dog, Katie.
Services will be Tuesday, December 22, at Commerce Funeral Home. Visitation will be that day beginning at 1 p.m., followed by the service at 2 p.m. Pallbearers will be Mike Perkins, Joseph Stewart, Jacob Davies, and Pat Zapata. She will be interred at Brigham Cemetery in Campbell.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the wonderful staff at Oak Manor Nursing Home in Commerce, Texas for taking such wonderful, loving care of our Ma. Thank you for being there and loving her when we couldn’t.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a local animal shelter or the National Humane Society.
