Dan McCall

TUSCOLA: Robert Daniel McCall, lifetime resident of Tuscola, died on Sunday, January 8, 2017 at home, three days after his 96th birthday. A funeral service honoring his life will be held at Jim Ned Valley Church of Christ in Tuscola on Saturday, January 14, at 2:00 pm, officiated by Mark Whitten. Burial, with Military Honors, will immediately following the service at the Tuscola Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at a visitation on Thursday, January 12, from 6:00pm-8:00pm at Fry-Smith Funeral Home in Tuscola.

Dan was born January 5, 1921 in Tuscola to Robert Matterson McCall and Martha Mae (Bambi) McCall. He attended and graduated from Tuscola High School on June 3, 1938.

Dan married Ethel Louise Deloach from Buffalo Gap in 1939. Soon after their marriage and while residing in Tuscola, they welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Donna Jean on May 26, 1940.

He later married Arlene Ozell Reeves in 1942 and they were blessed with a son, Gary Daniel on February 28, 1943.

In September 1943, Dan answered the call of his country and entered active service in the United States Army. He attended boot camp in Oregon at Fort Abbott.

He was sent to the Asiatic Pacific theater serving in the 302nd Combat Engineers, 77th Division, where he operated heavy equipment. He was stationed on the the islands of New Caledonia, Guam, Leyte, IE Shim, Okinawa, Cebu, and Japan.

In 1945, at the end of WWII, Dan traveled through Japan to see the devastation of war before returning home. While serving Dan received
several awards including: the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with three bronze service stars, Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal and Philippine Liberation Ribbon.

In October 1960, Dan wed Dorothy Mae Brown of Bradshaw. Their daughter Angela Martha was born on July 30, 1964.

Dan was a man of many talents and abilities. He loved being a fireman in Abilene, a substitute mail carrier in Tuscola, and many other endeavors including the building off of I-20, running his own TV Repair and Electrical Business.

He impressed many with his curiosity, his range of " useless knowledge", his wit and his gift for "never letting a few facts ruin a good story". His family and friends will deeply miss his trade-mark sense of humor, wisdom, and love for family.

Dan was a faithful member of the Tuscola Church of Christ, Elm Valley Community Church, Buffalo Gap Church of Christ and Jim Ned Valley Church of Christ throughout his life. He always served at these churches filling many different roles.

Several defining events had a lasting impact on Dan's life: The Great Depression, WWII, and the sudden death of his mother. Throughout, his faith and outlook on life inspired and uplifted those around him.

He leaves daughter, Donna Jean McCall Michie and husband Dr. David Michie of Ft. Myers, FL; Son, Gary Daniel McCall and wife Vicky of Tuscola; daughter, Angela Martha McCall Renner and husband Bryce of Tuscola; seven precious grandchildren including grandsons David Clay Michie and wife Brooke of Naples, FL; Harrison Renner of Tuscola, his "favorite" granddaughters, Sharon Michie of Nashville, TN, Stephanie McCall of New York, NY, Kaitlyn Renner of Tuscola, and Chera McCall-Johnson and husband Heath of Buffalo Gap. His five great grandchildren, who by the grace of God had time to know and love their "Papa", Sienna, Jonas, Mae, Scout, and Abigail. His Cousin, Colleen Cody of San Antonio and many nieces and nephews will also feel his absence.

Dan was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Dorothy, Brother, Alvin Moran McCall and Sister, Eva Nell McCall Atwood.

We (the family) would like to express our appreciation to those who cared for Dan in his last days. His caregiver Sara from Visiting Angels, Theresa and Donna from Kinder Hearts Hospice, and especially his granddaughter Chera, who stayed by his side to the end.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Tuscola Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 293, Tuscola, TX 79562

We will all miss the man we knew as "Dangerous Dan McCall", Taylor County's most eligible bachelor.

Condolences can be left at www.fry-smith.com.