Obituary of Mary Daniels

Mary Townsend Daniels, age 94, a lifetime resident of McCurtain County and former McCurtain County Tax Assessor entered into her heavenly home March 22, 2015. She joins many family members who had gone before her; including her husband Gillis Daniels, her parents, three sisters, five brothers, one granddaughter, and a son in-law. Mary was born November 3, 1920 in Valliant, Oklahoma, the daughter of Clark and Ethel (Elkins) Townsend. She was united in marriage to Gillis Daniels and to this union five daughters and one son were born. She and Gillis resided in the Redland Community with their six children and Gillis’ elderly father, Robert Hardy Daniels. Mary was an active member of the Redland Methodist Church while living in Redland. She later moved her church membership to the First United Methodist Church in Idabel when she and her four youngest children moved to Idabel after her husband’s death in 1964. Mary was appointed by the McCurtain County Commissioners to fill her late husband’s uncompleted term as the McCurtain County Tax Assessor. After completing the term, she sought the office and was elected many years, retiring in 1989 after 25 years of dedicated service. Mary was appointed to serve on the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Housing Authority Board for fifteen years. She was proud of her Choctaw Indian Heritage. She was also a member of the Haworth order of Eastern Star. Mary was very family oriented and loved cooking and visiting her family. Her grandchildren were her pride and joy. Mary also felt she had a blessed life that ‘The Lord was with her every step of the way”. She resided at Memorial Heights Nursing Home since 2008, where she formed many close relationships with the staff and other residents. She leaves behind to cherish her memory her daughters, Martha Leonard, Margie Wake and husband, Virgil, Betty Farley and husband, Max, all of Idabel, Oklahoma, Carolyn Goodenough and husband, Mel, of New Braunfels, Texas, and Kay Raun and husband, Richard, of Montgomery, Texas; son, Ray Daniels of Stillwater, Oklahoma; three sisters, Sarah Dunaway of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Jane Whitten and husband, Bobby, of Idabel, Oklahoma, and Pat Privott and husband, Norman, of Harrah, Oklahoma; sister-in-law, Carol Townsend of Clay Center, Nebraska; ten grandchildren, Mike Leonard, Mitch Leonard and Charlie and Tracie Leonard; Dustin and Denise Wake, Tamra and Jack Hodge, Darby Vacar, Christi and Kyle Hahn, Clay Raun, Cara and Sam Belcher, and Candice and Collin Bullard; thirteen great-grandchildren, Colt Leonard, Alex Leonard, Lathan Lucas, Kendyll Buckner, Rylan and Dalton Belcher, Emily Wake, Jentry Jet and Jetton James Hodge, Madison Claire and Truett James Hahn, and Asher and Burke Bullard; several nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and a host of friends. Services will be at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, 2015 at the First United Methodist Church, of Idabel, OK with Father Joe Townsend and Dr. Collin Bullard officiating. Interment will follow at the Redland Cemetery.