Gilbert Sydney Daniels, Jr.

Funeral Services for Gilbert Daniels, 79, of Nacogdoches will be held at 2:00pm on Thursday, June 20, 2024 at Laird Funeral Home with John Denby, Terry Hodge and Mark Bridges officiating.  Visitation will be held from 1:00 pm to 2:00pm on Thursday, June 20, 2024 at Laird Funeral Home.

Gilbert Sydney Daniels, Jr. (Known as Skip to family) was born on July 29, 1944 in Providence, Rhode Island and went home to the Lord on Thursday, June 13, 2024 in Nacogdoches.

Gil grew up in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, playing ice hockey and combing the beaches. He graduated in 1962 from Warwick Veteran’s Memorial High School in Warwick, Rhode Island and attended Rhode Island Junior College and joined the United States Air Force in 1963, served until 1967 and was honorably discharged. On June 19, 1964, Gil and the love of his life, Carrol Stone were married in Bossier City, Louisiana. Gil and Carrol were stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City where Natalie, their first daughter, was born. Gil then served at Hahn Air Force Base in Lotzbeuren, Germany as a flight line telephone technician. While in Germany, Gil, Carrol and Natalie traveled to France, Luxembourg, Belgium and Switzerland in an old raggedy 1954 Ford Taunus that they bought for $50.00.  Their travels back to this region over the past 58 years, always brought them right back to the welcome home of Werner and Marianne Henn, who became dear friends.

In 1967 after being discharged from the Air Force, Gil was first employed by the Xerox Corporation as a Support Technician working on copy machines in Lexington, Frankfort and other small towns in the mountains of Kentucky. He also attended Kentucky State College in Frankfort, Kentucky. Gil and Carrol’s second daughter, Kerrie was born in Frankfort, Ky. in 1972.  Gil worked on the copy machines in the Governor’s office and became friends with Governor Louie B. Nunn and was awarded the distinctive honor of “Honorable Kentucky Colonel.”  He was also friends with Governor Wendell Ford.

Gil accepted a transfer to Evansville, Indiana and was promoted to Service Manager for the tristate region of Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois. While in Evansville, Gil started a youth hockey team that Xerox sponsored. He coached several teams and was a referee. Gil was an excellent ice skater, as is his daughter, Kerrie, who accompanied him to all the games. A desk job was not the life for Gil and he accepted a transfer to Nacogdoches, Texas as a Support Technician. Gil retired here in Nacogdoches approximately 20 years ago. During his time with Xerox, Gil received many awards and was proud to be associated with such a fine company that valued him.

During his lifetime, Gil served in each church that he attended. As a member of First Christian Church, he served faithfully as a Deacon, active in Church attendance, Awanas, Sunday school and served on various committees. He was always ready to serve in the church and felt that he was working for the Lord. Gil was recently honored by the Congregation of First Christian Church as Deacon Emeritus for his long and faithful service.

Gil Daniels was a man who delighted in helping others. He served many years working the elections in Nacogdoches. He was always looking for ways to serve his neighbors and friends. If Gil was not helping others, he would be seen working in the yard or washing his cars. Many times when Kerrie’s friends would come to visit, he’d get caught washing Kerrie’s girlfriends cars while they were there.

Gil would walk daily in his neighborhood of Northeast Hills Subdivision, weather permitting. He would make a point to get to know every person that he met and know them well. Everyone knew who Gil was. One neighbor called him the mayor of the neighborhood because he knew and cared for everyone. Gil always made a point to ask people he met if they attended church and would invite them to First Christian Church and if they came, he would make a point to welcome them. Gil was a true Ambassador for Christ.

Gil had many favorite things that he enjoyed, his daily walks in the neighborhood; his old Ford pickup; ice hockey, especially the Bostan Bruins; ALL SFA sports, often seen at basketball games with his old friend Fred McAdoo; golf; University of Kentucky basketball; 1950’s Doo Wop music; drag racing, hot rod racing; working in his yard; washing his cars and Mexican food, catfish and shrimp at Clear Springs and Butcher Boys restaurant.

Surviving members of his family are wife, Carrol Stone Daniels of Nacogdoches; daughters, Natalie Rosener of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and Kerrie Daniels of Nacogdoches, Texas; grandchildren, Shawn Rosener & wife, Amy of East Greenwich, Rhode Island, William Rosener of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Katherine Rosener of Cranston, Rhode Island, Matthew of Raleigh, North Carolina and Nicolas of Nacogdoches, Texas; great grandchildren, Theo and Maisie of East Greenwich, Rhode Island; Anthony and Jayden of Cranston, Rhode Island; sister, Marilyn Daniels & husband, Joe Maggio of Narragansett, Rhode Island; brothers-in-law, Jerry Stone & wife, Mary O’Brien of Lexington, Kentucky, Colonel Don Stone, Ret. USAF & wife, Cathy of Altus, Oklahoma; sister-in-law: Martha Daniels of North Bend, Oregon; former sisters-in-law, Janet Turk of Lexington, Kentucky and Julie Stone of St. Louis, Missouri as well as many cherished nieces, nephews and cousins including ones gained through marriage.

Gil is preceded in death by his parents, Gilbert Sydney Daniels, Sr. and Ester Deborah Christina Bergstrom Daniels and brother, Jack W. Daniels.

Our family would like to thank: Heart to Heart Hospice Care team, Stallings Court Rehab Team, Veteran’s Administration, City of Nacogdoches Fire Department, Nacogdoches Emergency Management Services, Nacogdoches Medical Center, Urgent Doc Clinic, Laird Funeral Home, our dear neighbors, brothers, sisters, cousins and their families, our loving church family for all the support and love shown to us over the years and the Ladies of FCC for the lovely meal provided for our family. We also want to thank our loving friends who have always been there for us when we needed them for comfort. We love you all.

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