Ella Mae (Conley) Daniel, age 76 was born to Bluford and Nettie (Sawyer) Conley on August 13, 1945. She passed away peacefully at-home surrounded by family on December 7, 2021.
Ella spent her early childhood east of Raymondville, MO near Big Creek. She was a 1966 graduate of Houston High School. She later married Roy Daniel and together they had four daughters.
Ella was a loving person with a quiet calmness that is rare to find. She was quick to lean on her faith in difficult times. She stated that she has never felt alone in life knowing that the Lord was with her.
Ella was always ready for an adventure and loved the outdoors. She enjoyed rock hunting, mushrooming, fishing and floating. She was an amazing artist, photographer and cook. She loved her kitties, critters, and all of nature.
Ella was preceded in death by her parents, Bluford and Nettie Conley; and her baby brother, Bluford Jr. She is survived by her husband, Roy of the home; their four daughters, Sandra (and Jack) Hutsell, Sheila Washko, Sarah and Matt Schilling, and Sherri and Tim Ritter. She is also survived by her brother, Ottie Conley; and sister, Vada Martin; nine grandchildren; three great grandchildren; one great great grandchild; her aunts, Kathleen and Sib; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends; and beloved cats. She will be deeply missed.
As written by Roy
Born August 13, 1945, to Bluford Conley and Nettie (Sawyer) Conley east of Raymondville, MO in a small wood house. Ella entered a world of little and less. Many times, she talked of watching snow drifting in the cracks in the boards of their home. She spoke of her dad at the sawmill and of her parents going south to pick cotton. She talked about caring for her little brother and watching him die from pneumonia when she was only 5 or 6 years old. She spoke of her father dying in her early teens. She watched over her brothers (Bluford Jr and Ottie) and sister (Vada) caring for and guarding them.
She attended Houston High School and was a homecoming queen candidate. She was quiet but liked by her friends. She married Roy Daniel and moved to the Saint Charles area where their first daughter Sandra was born. Their second daughter Sheila was born 5 years later. They then moved back to Houston where Sarah and Sherri soon arrived. She accepted Christ from an early age and talked to him every day. She encouraged her children and friends to accept him too.
While living on her in-law’s farm and taking walks in the fields and woods no injured or abandoned creature was safe from her tender mercy and care until they recovered and were released or buried with full honors. She ran an open home to her daughters’ friends and would sometimes have 5-6 extra girls on the weekend. Some of them called her “Mom” and still do to this day.
She was a skilled artist in the Bob Ross style of painting. A lot of her work could have been marketed but it was given away. She loved the rivers and would go on 4-day, 50-mile trips into her mid 70’s. She loved odd, shaped rocks, and packed enough home to pave a large driveway.
When she finally acquired her own home, she guarded it like a lioness guarding her den and nothing was to be changed without her permission. It became part of her and she of it.
In 2019 She was diagnosed with cancer. She fought it for two years. Finally on December 7, 2021, her Lord and Savior came to her and said “That is enough Ella, well done. Take my hand and let’s go home.” And she went.
