Iris Gene McDaniel

Iris Gene McDaniel departed this earthly life to enter the Kingdom of Heaven on November 4, 2011. She was born on October 19, 1923 and died at the age of 89 years and 16 days. She was preceded in death by her mother Jewel Wilhite and her step-father Dave Wilhite and her husband of 62 years, Samuel McDaniel. Iris was a retired educator and truly loved being a teacher in the public schools of McCurtain County. She continued her formal education and became a Licensed Psychometrist and spent many years traveling the county testing special needs and gifted students. She believed very strongly that education was the key to success in life. Iris is survived by her two sons and their wives, Jerry and Cynthia McDaniel of Huntsville, Alabama and Terry and Shelia McDaniel of Valliant. She has seven grandchildren who she dearly loved, Timothy McDaniel, Rhonda Reeves, Samuel McDaniel, Sarah Kay Herring, Skip Barth, and Jennifer Barth, and Jeffery Jenkins. Also a very special cousin, Shirley Jenkins and husband Jerry Jenkins. She leaves behind fourteen great-grandchildren that brought her great joy and tremendous pride. The time she spent with her grand-children and great-grandchildren were some of the happiest times of her life. She also leaves behind a vast number of friends who brought great happiness into her life. She loved her friends just like her family and her door was always open to old and new friends. The time she spent with special friends Jim and Jean Setzer, Pat and Gary Smith, Nellie Weathers, Bob Sanford, Micky Hall, Benny and Judy Henson, Jimmy and Kay Surratt, Dot Mussett, and so many others made the last years of her life so very special. Iris and her late husband Sam had a very special love of reading and the family would like to request that in lieu of flowers, donations in their names be made to the Valliant Public Library so that others may enjoy the pleasures of reading.