Velma Lee (Ray) McDaniel

Velma Lee (Ray) McDaniel was born April 15, 1941, in Shawnee, Oklahoma to Samuel G. Ray and Doll Gennie (Harwell) Ray and passed away Tuesday May 19, 2026.

Velma attended school in Dale and McLoud, Oklahoma, graduating in 1959 from McLoud High School and then attended Hills Business College in Oklahoma City. She was a very good basketball player for McLoud and played semi pro for a couple years near Tulsa. She still holds the record for most rebounds in a single game at McLoud of 38 in 1958. In 1958-59 she was voted by Pottawatomie County Coaches as the best basketball guard in Pottawatomie County.

On September 14, 1959, she married the love of her life Bailey Joe Mc Daniel in McLoud, Oklahoma and they had two children, Anita Gail and Brian Dean McDaniel.

She worked as a secretary most of her career. Working at Oklahoma State University, Owens Country Sausage, and Oklahoma Welders. She and her husband owned and operated businesses in Kingston, Oklahoma and Buncombe Creek on Lake Texoma. Later she dealt in antiques, appraising, buying and selling. She was a collector of Cookie jars, having over 1,000 at one time, and liked old fine glassware. She loved to fish, do genealogy, sewing and cooking.

Preceding her in death was her husband of 56 years, Bailey, her parents, brother, Sammy Gene Ray, sister, Jewel Dean Ray and brother-in-law, Vernon McDaniel.

Survivors include her daughter, Anita Cameron and husband, Terrell of Gore, OK; son, Dr. Dean McDaniel and wife, Jennifer of Victoria, TX.; seven grandchildren, Derek Bridgman and Laura of Oktaha, OK, Krista and Gee Tyler of Vian, OK., Kelsey and Logan Tyler of Collinsville, OK., Megan and Sergio Garcia, Shay and Taylor Strauch, Heather and D.J. Hybner, Grant and Ally McDaniel, Ava Schulte and Mia Schulte all of Victoria TX.; great grandchildren, Lillian Troy, River, Joaquin, Dakota, Harper, Kingston, Cal, and soon to be Oaklynn; one sister, Belvia Boland of McLoud, OK; one brother in law and two sisters in law, Geraldine McDaniel of Albany TX., Kerry and Tusnee McDaniel of Gloucester, VA.; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. She loved them all very much.

Velma was a member of the (D.A.R.) Daughters of the American Revolution in McAlester, Oklahoma, The state D.A.R of Oklahoma and the National Chapter in Washington D.C., the Eufaula Genealogy Club. She was also a member of Gore Baptist Church, Gore, Oklahoma.

Pallbearers: Grandsons

Derek Bridgman, Grant McDaniel, Gee Tyler, Taylor Strauch, Logan Tyler, Sergio Garcia, D.J. Hybner, Troy Hybner

Viewing will be from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM Friday, May 22 at Cooper Funeral Home in Tecumseh, with family gathering from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM.  A memorial service will be held 11:00AM Saturday, May 23, 2026, at First Southern Baptist Church Gore, in Gore, OK with Pastor Tim Perkins officiating.  Graveside service will be 3:00 PM, Saturday, May 23, 2026, at Dale Cemetery with Pastor DuWayne Colvin officiating under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home of Tecumseh.