Nelma Jean McDaniel, affectionately known as Jean, Granny, Granny Jean, and to some classmates, Nelma Jean, passed away April 17, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family.
Born on June 17, 1944, in Weatherford, Texas, to William Boyd and Madrid Kidwell, Jean lived a vibrant and spirited life defined by laughter, love, and family.
She was a proud graduate of Midland High School where she played bassoon and clarinet in the marching band, ran the flag football field with determination, and formed friendships that would take her to class reunions hosted at both the Texas Governor’s Mansion and the White House. Jean married the love of her life, Jimmie Don McDaniel, on August 2, 1965. Together, they built a family that became her greatest joy. She is survived by Jim, her devoted husband of nearly 60 years, her children Don (Amy), Jason (Donna), and Kim (John), along with six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren who adored her dearly. Jean lived life with a bold heart and a playful spirit. She was a fierce competitor on the softball field and a talented bowler with more than a few perfect 300 games to her name. Her Thanksgiving dinners were legendary, her fish pond was her sanctuary, and her love of flowers was matched only by the joy she found in cheering on her beloved Houston Astros. Music from the 1950s and early ’60s filled her home, and so did laughter from her silly jokes and uniquely pronounced words.
True to her independent and generous nature, Jean requested no formal funeral or burial. Her wish was to be cremated, with her ashes used to nourish a tree or flowering bush—something beautiful and enduring.
Instead of mourning, Jean asked that her life be celebrated. She envisioned a gathering of family and friends at her new home in DeKalb—filled with home-cooked food, music, laughter, and stories that honored the joy, humor, and love she brought into the world. “Lots of smiles,” she requested, “and enjoying each other and my life.”
Her family plans to honor that wish in the near future. Jean’s spirit lives on in every bloom, every laugh, every Astros game, and every moment we take to be together.
Cremation is under the direction of Bates Family Funeral Home in De Kalb, Texas.
Online registration at www.batesfamilyfuneralhome.com.
