Daniel Ray England

Daniel 'Ray' England, 1950-2025

With profound sorrow, we announce that Ray England died in sleep in his bed at home on Tuesday night, November 11, 2025. He had had a nice meal complete with a cold diet Coke and a Reese's Cup tree.

Ray lived and died on his terms. This obituary is as non-traditional as he was.

Ray was a Knoxville, Tenn. native who lived in and around New Orleans, La. for almost 20 years in the middle of his life. He was a free spirit who looked like a hippie much longer than it was cool. He loved peanut butter, Ritz crackers, hot sauce (preferably Tabasco), jewelry, wooden boxes, and American antiques. When it came to antiques, he was a purist with a soft spot for hidden compartments and jaw-dropping transformations. He simply could not resist a flea market, a yard sale, or furniture on the curb. He could see beauty where most would see trash and could spot a reproduction at 50 paces. He was a gifted, self-taught refinisher and could repair almost anything made of wood.

He carried around an insane amount of coins. His daughter once counted his pocket change and came up with more than 11 dollars. He was the guy you wanted in front of a vending machine.

He had a sharp wit. He could make you laugh when you were least expecting it, with humor you didn't see coming -- and sometimes wouldn't get until a few minutes later. And he had a great laugh. When his daughter was little and got lost at a flea market, she would pray that someone would tell him a joke, knowing that the moment he laughed, she could find him.

He was a gentle giant that children and dogs couldn't resist. He had a big heart and they could sense it. He didn't look sentimental but he most certainly was.

He was a voracious reader. He could finish six or seven books a week, reading in front of the TV. He loved mysteries, westerns, cop shows, and action movies all at the same time.

He was strangely adept at tongue twisters.

Friends say he favored the saying 'Keep It Simple Stupid' at the Narcotics Anonymous meetings he attended for 40+ years. Earlier in his recovery he'd go to two meetings a day, one for the newcomer and one for himself.

He was perfectly imperfect, as are we all.

He is survived by his partner of 53 years, Dr. Connie Theriot, his daughter Danielle Rae England, grandson Isaac Daniel Holbert, half-brothers Wayne and Harold McKeehan, and half-sister Jackie McKeehan.

Ray was preceded in death by his mother Reba Williams England, his father Daniel "Mack" England, his brothers Tommy McKeehan and Sam England, and his nephew Scotty McKeehan.

In keeping with his nature, there will not be a traditional funeral service. Instead, we will have a New Orleans style-celebration of his life in the house that he built, filled with music and laughter, in December 2025.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Metro Drug Coalition at https://metrodrug.org/donate/