Fowler Dewayne McDaniel

Fowler Dewayne McDaniel-known to almost everyone as "Mac"-slipped away peacefully on September 19, 2025, in San Marcos, Texas, just an hour shy of his 79th birthday. He was surrounded by his wife Debbie and the three sons who were his pride and joy. Mac's life was marked by perfect timing, quick humor, and a grace that somehow made every room a little brighter.

Born in Terrell, Texas, and raised in the small town of Forney, Mac learned early how to make life fun, even when it wasn't easy. Those small-town streets shaped his big heart and his mischievous grin. Later, he built a life in Mesquite, Texas, raising his family, making lifelong friends, and becoming the kind of man everyone wanted to be around.

Mac served in the U.S. Army in air defense, though he'd never brag about it. What he would do was tell a story from his service that left everyone crying with laughter--or sometimes shaking their heads in disbelief. Stories like that followed him all his life, the kind you couldn't forget even if you tried.

After the Army, he spent his career in the car industry, but Mac didn't see people as customers-he saw them as friends. If he shook your hand, he remembered you. He remembered your kids' names, your favorite stories, the tiny details you forgot you'd shared. Being around Mac felt like being part of something bigger, warmer, and just a little bit wilder.

Mac loved the outdoors with a passion that matched his personality. If it moved fast, made noise, or required a little risk, Mac was there: hunting, fishing, boating, racing cars, and going to air shows. He camped in freezing weather just because he could, and somehow made chili, fried fish, and breakfasts legendary enough to make anyone who tasted them feel loved.

Then there were the pranks. One of his favorites involved slipping a dead snake around the brake pedal of a local cop's squad car. He ran, laughing, and never got caught-but told the story for decades, every time with the same twinkle in his eye. Those little bursts of mischief were classic Mac-bold, funny, and unforgettable.

Through all of it, what set Mac apart was his joy. Life threw its challenges, but he always found a way to laugh, to share a story, to turn an ordinary day into a memory you would never forget.

But above all, Mac's heart belonged to his family. He shared his life with his devoted wife Debbie, his partner in road trips, car shows, and all the small adventures of everyday life. Together, they raised three sons, each carrying forward his humor, grit, and love:

Darren, with his wife Kala, and their children Tommy and Callie

Damon

Derek, with his wife Laura, and their daughter Savannah

He also leaves behind his brother Rick (and wife Janie), his sister Mynetta, and a large extended family of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends who were truly family. Waiting for him in heaven were his parents, Carrie and Duard, and his step-parents Charlie and Nora.

Mac lived fully, laughed loudly, cooked with love, and loved fiercely. To know him was to be drawn in by his stories, warmed by his presence, and sometimes left shaking your head at the mischief he just pulled off. He leaves a hole in the world that can never be filled-but also a lifetime of memories that will be shared again and again, with laughter and love.

Here's to Mac: husband, father, granddad, brother, veteran, friend, and master storyteller. Heaven is undoubtedly louder, wilder, and a whole lot more fun now that he's there.

Rest easy, Mac. You lived a life bigger than most of us could imagine.