Constance "Connie" Crabb McDaniel

Constance “Connie” Crabb McDaniel, 94, of Raleigh, North Carolina and formerly of Pampa, died November 6, 2013, in Raleigh. Connie was born September 3, 1919, in Plainview, Texas. She graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas, Texas, and attended Decatur Baptist College in Decatur, Texas (now called Dallas Baptist University). On April 12, 1941, in Dallas, she married MacField McDaniel, M.D. Following his return from World War II in 1946, they moved to Pampa, Texas, where Dr. McDaniel practiced medicine until his death on November 7, 1993. After Dr. McDaniel's death, Connie moved to Amarillo, Texas, and lived near her son, David McDaniel, and daughter-in-law, Jane Wells McDaniel. She resided in Amarillo until 2001, and then moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, living near her daughter, Ellen McDaniel, and son-in-law, Robert E. Young. She often visited and was very involved with her other children, Helen McDaniel and husband Thomas "Tommy" Brower of San Antonio, and James McDaniel and wife Edith of Palm Springs, California. While in Pampa, Mrs. McDaniel was an active member of the district, state and national medical auxiliaries. She belonged to the Twentieth Century Forum Study Club and served many years on the Pampa Community Concert Board and Friends of the Library Board. She was active in PTA, and in 1966, was named Pampa's "Woman of the Year." She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Pampa, Texas, where she taught Sunday School for over 20 years in the Senior High School department. Mrs. McDaniel was "mother" to American Field Service (AFS) exchange student, Pedro (Peter) Kaddoum, from Brazil, and Altrusa exchange student, Evelyn Arellano, from Guatemala. She was also close to AFS exchange students Riina Hultquist of Sweden and Kathy Zaphiriou of Greece. These wonderful people became her extended family, and she remained close to them and their families until her death. Connie McDaniel is survived by her sons, James MacField McDaniel of Palm Springs, California, and David Alan McDaniel of Plano, Texas, and her twin daughters, Helen McDaniel of San Antonio, Texas, and Ellen McDaniel of Raleigh, North Carolina. She is also survived by her six grandsons: David's sons, David Curtis McDaniel and Gregory Brent McDaniel; Ellen's sons, Nathan Joel Young and MacField McDaniel Young; and Helen's sons, Brian George Brower and Sean Eric Brower. She also has one great grandson, Evan Davis McDaniel, son of Curtis and Larisa McDaniel. She was preceded in death by parents Rupert McIver Crabb and Ellen Isbell Crabb (Shipp), sisters Geraldine Crabb McGraw and Helen Crabb Brockles, and brother Rupert McIver Crabb, Jr. In her more recent life, Connie was a member of the First Baptist Church in Amarillo and Raleigh. In Raleigh, she volunteered at Raleigh Little Theater, mainly making costumes, and SAFEchild child abuse prevention agency, where she did office and phone support. She believed fervently in the people and mission of SAFEchild. She also nurtured a lifelong love of theater. Connie's last years were spent at Magnolia Glen retirement community in Raleigh, where she lived happily and had many friends, including her close companion of more than two years, Russell Groves. Her last days were made comfortable by the caring staff of Mayview Convalescent Center and Hospice of Wake County. Memorial services for Connie will be at 2:00 PM Saturday, November 23, 2013 at Carmichael-Whatley Colonial Chapel in Pampa. Inurnment will be in Fairview Cemetery in Pampa next to her husband, Mac, and her mother, Ellen. Connie leaves behind what can only be called a fan club of people who were crazy about her. Her family and friends will miss her deeply. In lieu of flowers or gifts, Connie asks that you make a contribution to SAFEchild NC, 864 W. Morgan Street, Raleigh, NC 27603, or at www.safechildnc.org.