Daniel Burl Schooley

Daniel Burl Schooley was born in Brownwood, Texas, on September 14,1948, to Burl and Dottie Jewel Schooley. He died on February 8, 2024, after a long and courageous fight against ALS, which is the cruelest of diseases.
He is preceded in death by his son, Morgan; his parents, DJ and Burl; his mother-in-law, Pat Craighead; sister-in-law, Nell Craighead; and niece, Jill Craighead Anthony. He is survived by his wife, Peggy Craighead Schooley; his son, Ben Schooley; his sister and brother-in-law, Susan and Patrick Shannon; brothers-in-law, Don Craighead and David and Shelia Craighead; Morgan's widow, Sarah Schooley Mikula; his grandchildren, Kaleb Schooley, Aaron Schooley, David Schooley, Parker Schooley; and many nieces and nephews.
Dan came up the usual way as most '50s babies - Sunday school, church, and sports. Dan loved football and baseball, and worked hard enough that he earned the quarterback and pitcher positions for Jefferson High School. After graduation, he took a year off from school and met his future wife, Peggy, while working as a contractor at Churchill High School.
Before 7 months had passed, they were engaged and were married six weeks after Peggy's graduation on July 12, 1969. She was 17 and Dan was 20. Then they set about the chore of actually growing up together. For the next 55 years, she was honored to be a part of Dan's life. He was loyal, honest, thoughtful, and kind. The running joke was that she was his princess and he was her cabana boy. If that is true at all, and it is, it was because he loved her and the rest of his family without reservation.
Dan had 2 sons, Benjamin Daniel and Matthew Morgan. Growing up, Dan traveled the boys all over Texas racing motorcycles and he would frequently say, "I would have given anything to be able to race motorcycles as a kid!" and the entire family created countless memories doing so. He traveled to every single game the boys had in their high school sports, and then traveled frequently to Lubbock for football games he'd attend with his two sons as they both attended Texas Tech as well. Morgan preceded him in death and many smiles have been had knowing the celebration that has been happening in heaven between these two.
Dan and Peggy moved to Boston in the late 90s and spent 20ish years creating memories, traveling, and establishing wonderful relationships before ultimately retiring back to Boerne, Texas. Dan loved fishing with his sons and grandkids; he was well known through the family as having the absolute worst taste in movies and owned more guns than a militia. He prided his life on ensuring that everyone in his family was taken care of - from their actual safety to making sure the trash was taken out. If it was to be considered, rest assured that Dan already had considered it. The man had not one single angry or violent bone in his body, but you always knew that he'd be the first to take the bullet for you. It was simply who he was.
Dan's services will be held on Thursday, February 15, 2024, at Ebensberger Fisher Funeral Home at 1265 N. Main Street, Boerne, TX 78006. Visitation will be at 10:30 a.m. and the service will begin at noon. It will be followed by a short graveside service.
While he'd appreciate flowers, he'd love your attendance at his celebration of life even more. And then beyond that, he'd covet your donations to the Team Gleason Foundation at TeamGleason.org - to provide adventure, technology, equipment and care services to people living with ALS.
Even through the torturous fallout from ALS, Dan never once complained. He didn't whine. He didn't get angry. Instead, he laughed and watched his horrible movies, and made sure that everyone hugged him even when he couldn't hug them back. And no matter what, even if you were leaving the room to simply get a drink of water, he'd always say "I love you."
There will never be another like him as God surely breaks the mold when hearts as glorious as Dan's are created. He will be missed painfully, but his release out of pain and his return to his parents and his youngest son make it a little more tolerable.
The world seems smaller today without him in it.