Britt was a Christian who loved the Lord, he could quote scripture as well as most preachers. He had great compassion for the elderly, anyone who was mentally or physically challenged and little children who were less fortunate than himself. Britt was the freest hearted person you could ever know. If he had a dollar in his pocket, he was rich and would give you half of it if you needed it.

    The summer he graduated from high school, he contacted salmonella, with it settling in his colon. Within one month, he lost 56 pounds, and we almost lost him. He had to have a large portion of his large intestine removed. When he was taken into surgery, at Baylor hospital in Dallas, he was given a 20% chance of surviving the surgery. By the Grace of God, he came through the surgery, and the years that followed was a nightmare for him. He had many adjustments to make in his life, and he had to give up the dreams he had playing collage football and becoming a football coach.

    For a year after recuperating and accepting the physical and emotional adjustments he had to make in his life, Britt enrolled in Howard Payne University. Where, after completing his courses there he then went to the School of Taxidermy, in Phoenix, Arizona, to learn a trade that would be less demanding of him. As he knew, the future of more surgeries was facing him, and he was right, in 30 years, Britt had to undergo 31 surgeries.

    Even as a young boy of about 12 years of age, Britt was intrigued in taxidermy, beginning with the tanning of snake skins, to later stuffing birds that he shot with his BB gun and so on. In his adult life, Britt became a master in his work, opening his first shop in Brownwood, Texas. Britt would work on a mount until it was perfect, spending endless hours on one piece. He was awarded many 1^st place trophies in competitions, and met and worked with world renowned people in the field of Taxidermy. However, due to more surgeries, he was unable to keep his shop open, but throughout the years he opened other shops, were he again was faced with illness and surgeries. Britt later ended up just working out of his home, when time and health permitted him to do so, until the time of his death.

    Britt had many talents and he was an artist as well. He had just enough Indian blood in him, that the ways of the Indians intrigued him. Indian relics and artifacts were duplicated by him in several ways. He studied their beliefs and signs, and was able to tell great stories regarding them. Britt made many replicas of different tribes from God’s Eyes, Hatchet’s, Drum’s, Rattler’s, and to a variety of working tools.

    Britt’s’ dad always said he was born 200 years too late, as he loved the outdoors, and could have lived off the land. He would tromp the outdoors in the coldest of weather, and never feel the cold, as he was so engrossed in what he was seeing or finding. Maybe a track of an animal, an arrow head, deer rub, or some kind of strange berry from a tree. The outdoors was always an adventure for him, he knew every trail and never got lost. Hunting with him was also a real adventure. He could “rattle” up a deer or call a turkey like a pro, “which he was”.

    Britt was not one to ever be alone, often times, choosing partners or friends who were really not the most conductive people. If any song was befitting to him, it would have to be “The Women All Get Prettier at Closing Time”. He wanted nothing more than a “normal life”, to be successful in what he did, a wife, a home, and a place of belonging, with someone he could depend on and who could depend on him, both financially and emotionally. The first and foremost loves in Britt’s life would have to be his two daughters and his granddaughter, so many times he told me how much he wanted to spend more time with his granddaughter, and be a real grandfather to her. Britt loved all his family, his girls, granddaughter, mom, dad, brother, sisters, and his nieces and nephews. I was one told, “Jan I have never known a man who loves his mother as much as Britt loves you”. And I know that to be a fact, and what a blessing. Seldom did a day go by that he wouldn’t call me just to say, “ I just wanted to see how you were and tell you I Love You”. In fact, those were the last words he ever said to me on the day that he passed from this life.

    Britt had dreams and in his mind, he would fulfill them someday, someway. His brother once said, “Britt could sale ice cubes to Eskimos!” Britt was a fantastic story teller, some of it truth and some maybe made up as he went along. He fantasized, maybe dreamed, or just wished for his many far fetched and exaggerated versions of life.

    Life with Britt at home was always an adventure, into the unknown. You might turn on the water and he would have wired down the sprayer handle, “you were drenched before you could realize what had happened”. It was never safe to open the refrigerator, if Britt was in the kitchen, as you would probably end up with an egg cracked in your hair, or butter rubbed all over your face. His favorite thing to do was to put frosting all over someone’s face, “more than once, I was his target!” Britt would blow up fireworks, when his brother was in the bathroom, and laugh until he was hysterical, because Blane thought he had been shot and couldn’t hear. He was always a practical joker, and Christmas Eve would never be complete until Britt did his imitation of Elvis Presley, and then recite his favorite rendition of “Bull Moose, By Britt Daniel’s”.

    Britt lived 29 years, 364 days from the time he became ill on June 9^th, 1976, between the hours of 8 & 9 p.m., departing this earth on June 8^th, 2006, at approximately 8:12 p.m.

    The void in our lives and hearts will never be filled, but we have so many precious memories of a great guy. I know, if we could ask him today if he could choose, would he return to us or stay where he is, he would simply say, “I Will Just Wait For You Here!”.

    This his who Britt Daniel was, a beloved son, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend.

                                                                                            In Loving Memory,

                                                                                            Mom (Jan)

    Troy Daniel quotes, “ Britt had his demons, but don’t we all?“ Britt will be deeply missed and forever loved.