Herbert Ellis McDaniel

Herbert Ellis "Mac" McDaniel went to his heavenly home on Wednesday, January 25, 2023.  

He was born March 18, 1929, in Nederland, TX to Alva Thomas McDaniel and Della McFadden McDaniel.  

Mac was preceded in death by his parents, E.W. and Della Ratliff; his two brothers, Alva Thomas McDaniel and James Charlie McDaniel, the love of his life and wife Sarah Lord McDaniel; his son Michael Ellis McDaniel; and a stepson Johnny D. Turner.

He is survived by his son, Ray W. McDaniel (Barbara); his daughter Ginger McDaniel Dunaway (David); his stepson, Benny C. Turner (Debbie); and step daughter-in-law, Phyllis Turner; his ten grandchildren, April Ramos, Sarah Lesniak, Ryan McDaniel, John "Jay" Dunaway, Tina Dunaway Stenum, Timothy Turner, John Darrin Turner, Melissa Turner, Jackie Thibodaux and Matthew Turner; sixteen great            grandchildren; and ten great-great grandchildren.

At the age of 3 months, his father died in an industrial accident, his mother then took him and two siblings back to Summit, MS where she met and married E. W. Ratliff, who gladly took on the task of raising the three boys as his own.

Upon graduation from high school Mac joined the Army National Guard, he spent a tour of duty during the Korean War and received the Combat Infantry Award in country.  Once returning home, he attended the University of Southern Mississippi and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business.  Mac also attended officer's candidate school and achieved the rank of First Lieutenant. He worked for many years with Lion Oil Co. as bulk plant manager for the southern district including MS, AL, LA.  When Lion Oil went out of business, Mac went back to school and received a real estate license and broker's license. He and his wife, Sarah, opened their own real estate company, Banner Real Estate. During this time, Mac was active with the Gulfport Elks Lodge and even represented the lodge as King Fidelity XXI during Mardi Gras season.  He was an active member of Woolmarket Baptist Church and after retirement he joined the WBC roofing team and went on many missions helping other churches and individuals with a new roof.  He and his wife also joined the MS division of Campers on Mission which they enjoyed immensely. Later in life he started building blue bird houses which he loved to give away to anyone who would take one. It wasn't unusual to find him riding his lawn mower through the neighborhood visiting anyone who was out and willing to stop and chat a while.

A visitation will be held from 10:30-11:30am, Wednesday, February 1, 2023,  at Riemann Family Funeral Home, 11280 Three Rivers Road, Gulfport, the funeral service will begin at 11:30am, with interment to follow at Biloxi National Cemetery at 1:30pm.

Please visit www.riemannfamily.com where memories and photos can be shared.