James Howard McDaniel : Obituary

James Howard McDaniel, 86, of the Higdon community passed away Friday, September 27, 2013 at Copper Basin Medical Center. Howard was the son of the late William M. McDaniel and Estie Pope McDaniel. He was a loving father and grandfather. Howard enjoyed hunting and fishing and taught many men in the community how to do so. He spent much of his time enjoying life, nature and animals. His true passion was for bee keeping and farming. He was happy to see his last crop harvested. He was known by many as one of the true mountain men of Fannin County. He was a former employee of the Fannin County Road Department and a World War II Army veteran. He also spent time working as a shrimper in Florida, a fur trapper and selling his home grown vegetables.

He was preceeded in death by his wife Ruby Dyer McDaniel; brothers Johnny, Bud and George McDaniel; sisters Ruby Thomas, Helen Walden, Hazel Dillard and Thelma Nichols.

He is survived by his daughters and son-in-law Kathy and Kevin Nicholson, of Blue Ridge and Patti Bailey of Epworth; grandchildren Jessica Eads of Morganton, Nicole Nicholson of Blue Ridge, Sarah and Randy Watkins of Pageland , S.C., and Hannah and Jarrett Miller of Cumming, Ga.; great-grandchildren McKenzie Fisher, Caden and Noah Watkins and Isabella Eads; sisters and brother-in-law Willa Nell Jones, of Blue Ridge and Ruth Mae and Leroy Hawkins, of Blue Ridge. Many nieces and nephews also survive.

Funeral services will be held Monday, Sept. 30, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. from the Akins of Blue Ridge Chapel with the Rev. Delmar Davenport, the Rev. Daniel Postell and The Rev. Steve O’Neal officiating. Pallbearers include Tommy Payne, Tommy Millsaps, Anthony Walden, Darrell Walden, Tim Walden, Joseph Walden, Wesley Chastain, Steve O’Neal. Honorary pallbearers include Lucas Walden, Bennie Ritchie, Oliver Walden, John Chastain, Morris Callihan, Thomas Graham, Mitchell Patterson, Danny Patterson and Robert McDaniel. Interment will follow in the Hipps Chapel Church cemetery. Military honors will be by the North Georgia Honor Guard.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday evening from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Condolences may by sent to the family at www.akinsfuneralhome.com. Akins Funeral Home of Blue Ridge is in charge of the arrangements.