Frank McDaniel

Frank (Burchett) McDaniel was born in Unionville, Mo. on October 8, 1922, to Nathan and Sarah (Scarborough) Burchett. At a young age, he and his siblings were taken to an orphans’ home in Carrollton, Mo. At the age of eight years old, he came to live with Wilmer and Velma McDaniel of Richland, Mo. Although never officially adopted, he took their last name as his own. Frank married Reba Lois Sneed on March 4, 1946, and to this union, three children were born: Gregory Alan, Brenda Sue and Eric Frank. Frank became a Christian at a young age and was a faithful member of each church he attended. He was ordained as a deacon on Jan. 25, 1981, at Calvary Baptist Church in Sedalia, Mo. Frank was a founding member of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Richland, Mo. and attended regularly until he moved to his final earthly home at the Veterans’ Home in St. James, Mo. He was an active member at Cornerstone and took his (and Reba’s) tasks of serving in the kitchen and preparing the elements for communion very seriously. He was well known for his sense of humor, which he passed on to his children and grandchildren, and his daily walks around town. He had various hobbies throughout his lifetime including solving crossword puzzles, playing cards and dominoes, bowling and golf. Frank was a proud Marine who served in the Pacific Theatre of World War II on Okinawa. He fought in the battle of Sugar Loaf Hill and was the only survivor of his platoon in one of the final battles of WWII. The 6th Division Marines suffered 2,662 men killed or wounded and lost another 1,289 men due to evacuation because of either exhaustion or battle fatigue in that horrendous historic battle. After his military service and diesel mechanic training under the GI Bill in Gary, Ind., Frank worked as a diesel mechanic at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo., working for Civil Service for many years. One of those years, 1971 to 1972, was spent in Vietnam. After he retired from Civil Service in the early 1970s, he worked for Howard Construction in Sedalia, Mo. and Mena, Ark. for several more years before retiring and moving back to Richland, Mo. in the mid-1980s. His service to his country was rewarded in the last few years of his life when he resided at the Veterans’ Home in St. James, Mo. He often told his family, “they take really good care of me here,” and his family can confirm the truth of that statement. His immediate family is eternally grateful to the staff at the Veterans’ Home for making his final years a blessing. Those left to mourn Frank’s passing are his sons, Greg, and his wife, Nancy, of Cabot, Ark., and Eric, and his wife, Vickie, of Las Vegas, Nev., and daughter, Brenda Thornsberry, and her husband Max, of Richland, Mo. Also surviving are three granddaughters, Robin Garrett of Houston, Ark., Carrie McDaniel of Cabot, Ark., and Jessica Hartman of O’Fallon, Mo.; Grandsons include: Dr. Jonathan Thornsberry of Ozark, Mo., Chris McDaniel of Cabot, Ark., and Aaron McDaniel of Las Vegas, Nev. He also leaves nine great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends, as well as two brothers, Morris McDaniel and his wife, Joyce, and Buddy McDaniel, all of Richland, Mo. He is preceded in death by his wife of over 64 years, Reba Lois McDaniel, who died on September 16, 2010. A funeral service was held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 20, 2011 in the Cornerstone Baptist Church with Pastor Chuck Baker officiating. Speakers were Greg & Eric McDaniel. Music selections included “Amazing Grace” and “Have Faith in God” both sang by the congregation. Other CD selections included “The Love of God” and “It Is No Secret”. Serving as escorts were Tom Reagan, Mike Reagan, Jonathan Thornsberry, Wayne Alexander, Diz Carver, Chris McDaniel, Travis Hartman and Max Thornsberry. Burial with Military Honors followed in the Oaklawn Cemetery of Richland, Mo. Services were under the direction of Memorial Chapel of Richland.

Frank McDaniel

October 8, 1922 - July 16, 2011