Alma "Ruth" McDaniel of Bee Cave, Texas joined her heavenly Father on August 13, 2012. She made this journey from home, surrounded by her loving family. Ruth was the daughter of Joseph Tallus and Ester Mae Doucet. She was born in Del Rio, Texas on October 12, 1920. At a young age she joined the family of her uncle, Fred Slaughter, who resided in Del Rio, Texas. She also went to work for a family in Del Rio, where she learned to ride, rope and always claimed she could shoot off the back of a running horse!
Ruth was Vice-President of Joe McDaniel Construction; a company owned by her and her husband but her most important job titles were those of "Mother", "Mamaw", and "Nana".
During her children's early years Ruth stayed very busy as a "room mother" at Oak Hill Elementary School and spent many hours working in the concession stand at the Oak Hill Optimist baseball field.
She was a member of Oak Hill Baptist Church for many years.
She was an excellent cook, and took special pride in her huge family gatherings. When her grandchildren came along she taught them how to dance, fish, rope, climb trees, and her odd talent of how to stand on their heads! Her home was their first stop after getting off school buses in the afternoons, where she always had cookies and milk waiting.
Ruth is survived by Joe W. McDaniel, her loving husband of 69 years and 8 months. She is also survived by daughters Judy Amor Preslar (Royce) of Bee Cave, Jennie Barker (Floyd) of Dale, Janie Lee (Robert) of Austin, son Jeff McDaniel (Cathy) of Bee Cave, sister Violet Essary (Mark) of Lockhart.
Ruth is also survived by 8 grandchildren; Hank Amor (Becky), Kelli Barker Carr, Denny McDaniel (Page), Mea Amor, Dusty McDaniel (Noelle), Isaac Taylor (Crystal), Joshua McDaniel, Alissa Lee.
Ruth also had 14 great grandchildren; Brandi (Ben), Jordan, Kasey, Arianna, Izell, Cody, Josiah, Ranelle, Samya, Westin, Isaac Jr., Finley, Derek, Wylie, baby Charlotte due in September, and numerous other family and friends.
She was preceded in death by son Joseph (Jody) W. McDaniel, Jr., her brother Joseph Doucet, her sister Mary Radosevich and her granddaughter, Shannan Lee.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 16, 2012 at Weed-Corley-Fish Lake Travis Funeral Home, 411 Ranch Road 620 South.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 17, 2012 at Christian Life Church, 4700 Westgate Blvd., with Pastor Rex Johnson officiating. Burial will follow at Forest Oaks Memorial Park in Oak Hill.
The family extends a special "thank you" to caretakers Christa Gill and Alex Bosier, for their tender care of Mother, and to the kindness of the Neurology nurses at St. David's Medical Center.
They also extend their love and "heartfelt thanks" to Ruth's special friend, and caregiver Sue Del a Garza, for all the love and care, and family support she gave during the past 2 ½ years.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Austin Hospice, 4107 Spicewood Springs Road, Suite 100, Austin, Texas 78759.