Carmen McDaniel, 89, passed away peacefully in her sleep on April 24, 2024 at her home in Denton, Texas.

She was born July 16, 1934, in Reserve, New Mexico, the third child of Marcial and Mary Martinez.  Her dad owned a sawmill, and they stayed in Reserve until she was around 11 years old before moving to Corrales, and finally to La Sierra, California – where she graduated from high school.

She took some college business classes and worked at the Loma Linda Food factory with her sister Angie.

In the summer of 1956, she met the love pf her life – Gerald Dean McDaniel and they marries on March 15, 1958.  Jerry was in the Air Force, stationed at March Air Force Base in California and she spent her life as an Air Force Wife, working in administrative positions at the various bases he was stationed at.

They welcomed two daughters: Karen in 1959 and Sandra in 1961.

Throughout their marriage they were stationed at Alexandria, Virginia; Norman, Oklahoma; Edwards AFB in California and Hickam AFB in Hawaii.

When Jerry retired from the Air Force they settled in Quartz Hill, California, where Carmen worked as the office manager of the Palmdale Water District.  They enjoyed their life there but when their first grandchild Ashley was born in Texas in 1989, they just couldn't bear to be so far away and eventually moved when she was one.  Two years after moving to Texas their second grandchild, Lexi was born.

Carmen loved children, especially babies, and besides her two granddaughters, she had several honorary grandchildren over the years.

She was very outgoing and loved to meet new people as well as visit friends and family.  Even though she and her sister Angie lived in different states, they talked almost daily on FaceTime.  She loved to laugh and make others laugh and she loved to eat ice cream and corn on the cob.  Despite many health issues, she remained positive and determined.

She was a lifelong Seventh Day Adventist and relied on her faith and love of God throughout her life.

She is preceded in death by her husband Jerry, his parents George and Pearl, her parents Marcial and Mary, her sisters Audelita and Coby and her brother Ruben, her sisters-in-law Betty, Wilma, Sue and her brothers-in-law Bobby and Buddy.

She is survived by her daughters Karen McDaniel and Sandra Reames (Larry); granddaughters Ashley Smith (Riley) and Lexi Armstrong (Bryon); great-grandchildren Emma, Logan Smith, Chance Armstrong and Jack Armstrong; her sister Angie Sanchez (Dan); sisters-in-law Lillian Owens, Velma Boman and Louise Aamold; niece Cinda Fox and Liza Bustin, great-niece Kelsey Fox, nephew Gary Sanchez (Cheri) and numerous other nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

Services will take place on Saturday, May 4th, at 11a.m. at Mulkey-Mason Funeral Home in Lewisville.  The burial will be private.

In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Association.