Daniel Gray Best II

1942 - 2024

Daniel Gray Best II
10/11/1942 - 09/21/2024
DANIEL GRAY BEST, II (aka. Danny or Uncle Dan), of Woodland, CA, passed away on Saturday, September 21st, at the age of 81.
Born in 1942, in Sacramento to Daniel Gray Best Sr. and Bernice Baird Best. Mr. Best was raised in Woodland.
He graduated Woodland High School in 1960 and later attended Menlo College in Menlo Park.
After college, he went to work for his father at their ranch north of Woodland.
He joined the Sacramento National Guard and spent six years in the reserves. He started farming on his own in 1976 and formed the Dan Best Ranch, Inc.
Throughout his life, Mr. Best was a true philanthropist, showing his generosity by supporting many worthy causes.
Mr. Best was a Woodland Chamber of Commerce member for over 25 years and served on numerous boards throughout Yolo County including the Woodland Healthcare Foundation among others.
In 2008, he hosted the "Best Show on Tracks," which was one of the largest displays of antique tractors and thrashing machines from around the world.
In 2013, Mr. Best was named Agribusiness Person of the Year by the Woodland Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Best came from a long line of agricultural innovators. His great-grandfather, Daniel Best, worked in early grain harvesters and steam tractors starting in 1871 in San Leandro, CA.
His grandfather, C.L. Best, then picked up where his father left off and went into traction tractors in 1910.
The company would ultimately become Caterpillar Tractor Co., after merging with the Holt Company.
Mr. Best loved being out on the waters of Lake Tahoe as well as on the beaches of Hawaii – two of his most cherished places to visit. He also greatly enjoyed tending to his garden and traveling the world.
Mr. Best was preceded in death by his two sisters, Barbara Best Payne and Brenda Best Weaver; and his parents, Bernice Baird Best and Daniel Gray Best Sr.
He is survived by his niece, Brenda Cooley of Lafayette; nephews, William Payne and Robert Payne of Woodland and John C. Weaver III of Napa.
Mr. Best is also survived by his six grandnieces and grandnephews, Bridget Cooley, Sean Cooley, Lauren Payne Cuff, Ryan Payne, Taylor Payne, and Thomas Payne.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to one of the three following organizations: Mary's Chapel and Cemetery Support Group, P.O. Box 91, Yolo, CA., 95697; YoloCares, 1909 Galileo Ct., Davis, CA 95618; or the Woodland Healthcare Foundation, Philanthropy Offices, 1321 Cottonwood Street, Woodland, CA 95695.
A private family memorial was held earlier this month.