Service held for Merle Lee Daniel

Merle Lee Daniel, 77, of Midland, TX passed away on Wednesday, August 21, 2019. He was born on October 17, 1941 to Amos Jackson Daniel and Juanita ‘Groves’ Daniel, Weaver. He grew up mostly in the state of Oklahoma and proudly served as a Field Radio Repairman for the National Guard from 1959-1963. He was a veteran, a member of the Chickasaw Warrior Society, and a proud member of the Chickasaw Nation.

Merle met his sweetheart, Sylvia Wells, in Norman, OK in the café at the OU Motel. Sylvia’s attention was caught after seeing Merle eating approximately 10 slices of pie, each flavor in the pie case. After several tries to date Sylvia, the waitress at the café, they went on their first date December 17, 1962. The whirlwind courtship began and they soon married February 10, 1963. From that point on, Merle and Sylvia were nearly inseparable. They traveled from Oklahoma to Dallas to Chicago, then to Midland. Soon after their marriage Merle worked briefly for Western Union as a teletype repairman. Eastman Kodak quickly noticed Merle’s talent to repair almost anything and stole him from Western Union. His career with Eastman Kodak lasted almost 25 years.

Merle and his family were members of the Worldwide Church of God for many years. Their affiliation helped them meet and know many families all over Texas. Their family grew and they soon had a family of seven. He recently studied with the Midland Torah Study Group and Yahweh’s Disciples In Yeshua Messiah.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Sylvia ‘Wells’ Daniel; Four siblings: Pat Cole (Ted), Brenda Beene, Phylliss Ballard, and Troy Daniel; five children: Lisa Russell, Neal Daniel and family, Tiana Daniel, Nick Daniel (Sandy), Alicia Lee (Allen); eleven grandchildren: Jason Burk, Taylor Batey, Bailey Clinton, LaNora Lee, Elena Lee, Glinda Lee, Gage Daniel, MaKayla Boykin, and Emily Hart; and great-grandchildren: Amberlee Self and Henlee Self and numerous nieces and nephews.

Merle is preceded in death by his mother Juanita Weaver, father Amos Daniel, brother Larry Daniel, and sister Alice Daniel.

A celebration of life was held on Monday, August 26, 2019 at 2:00 PM at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland, TX.

Burial service will be in Centrahoma, OK August 31, 2019 at 10:00 AM at the Centrahoma Cemetery under the Brown’s Funeral Services of Coalgate, OK supervision.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com.