Joseph McDaniel

Joseph Winford “Joe Mac” McDaniel was born Dec. 15, 1923, in the Gilmer/ Hot Coffee area of Mississippi. Joe entered the gates of Heaven on Feb. 28, surrounded by his loving family. He was the son of Ida Lou Flint and George Washington McDaniel. As a boy he worked the cotton fields and held various other labor-intensive jobs in order to help support his family. On the promi

se of a job from his brother, he relocated to Del Rio, Texas, where he met and married the love of his life, Alma Ruth Doucet. This marriage lasted until four months shy of their 70th anniversary and produced five children.

He worked with the Corps of Engineers, before being called to duty for WWII, in 1944. He left behind his bride and family to serve his country in Europe. He stormed the beaches of Normandy at Omaha Beach, and fought until the war was over. After WWII, Joe Mac came back to the states and started his construction career in 1946.

Joe and Ruth raised their family in the Oak Hill area, where he was very involved in the Oak Hill Optimist Club, and in building the original field.

For the next 26 years, Joe was a supervisor, superintendent, and foreman for companies such as H.B. Zachary, Howard Stitch, George Consolidated, and Austin Engineering Company. In 1971 Joe decided to start his own business.

Over the next 25 years Joe McDaniel Construction Company built many subdivisions in and around Austin. Underground utilities were the mainstay behind the business. During the early growth of Austin, the company cleared trees, built streets, installed underground utilities, poured curb, paved asphalt, and all of the excavation required for building a neighborhood. Later, the company took a turn concentration mainly on land clearing, which they continue to do today.

Joe’s life consisted of loving his beautiful wife, enjoying and visiting with friends, entertaining his children and grandchildren (ever ready with a lollipop for the little ones) hunting, fishing, keeping his 25-acre homestead looking like a park, having breakfast every morning at Jim’s and enjoying his life to the very fullest.

Joe is survived by daughters, Judy Amor Preslar (Royce), of Bee Cave, Jennie Barker (Floyd), of Cedar Creek, and Janie Lee (Robert), of Austin, and son, Jeff McDaniel (Cathy), of Bee Cave. His legacy continues with his precious grandchildren: Hank Amor (Becky), Kelli Barker Carr, Denny McDaniel (Page), Mea Amor, Dusty McDaniel (Noelle), Isaac Taylor (Crystal), Joshua McDaniel, and Alissa Lee. Joe also had 14 great-grandchildren: Brandi (Ben), Jordan (Jessica), Kasey (Brandon), Arianna, Izell, Cody, Josiah, Ranelle, Samya, Westin, Isaac Jr., Finley, Derek, Wylie and Charlotte, and three great-great-grandchildren: Sida, Abram, and Zimiah. He is also survived by sisters, Lavenia Scherer, of Spicewood, Joan Peters (Bill), of Bastrop, and Sylvia Rogers (George), of Pass Christian Miss., and many, many nieces and nephews who loved him dearly.

Joe is preceded in death by his parents; his wife Ruth; his son, Jody; granddaughter, Shannan; brothers, Denton and Delmer; and sisters, Hathie Mae, Idell, Dollie, and Georgia.

The family extends a special “thank you” to caretakers Sue de la Garza, Christa Gill and Kara Thomas for their tender loving care of Daddy over the past several years.

Joe Mac had a personality like none other, and never met a stranger. His large presence will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.