- Date Of Birth: August 3, 1938
- Date Of Death: July 27, 2018
- State: Maryland
Billy D. Danels of Easton passed away peacefully at home on Friday, July 27, 2018, with his loving wife, Margaret by his side. He was 79 years old.
Bill was born on August 3rd, 1938, in Luxora, Arkansas, the third of five children to Maude Pierce Danels and Jeff Douglas Danels. Soon after his birth, the family moved to Senath, Missouri, where they worked as sharecroppers. Being the oldest son, Bill began working in the fields, picking cotton at the tender age of 8 years old to help the family make ends meet. Bill was hardworking and ambitious and foresaw a much better life for himself and his family. At the age of 17, after ensuring his family was financially secure, Bill travelled to California with friends to seek better work opportunities. He found work in the Imperial Valley of California tilling and preparing fields for planting. It was hard work, but his willingness to work long hours, his ability to fix just about any kind of machine he worked with, his sheer determination and his likeable personality ensured he always had work. When he could, he would return home to Missouri to ensure his parents and younger siblings had everything they needed. But Bill still saw a better future. In his twenties, with a wife and two small children, he moved to Hoopeston, Illinois and got hired as a line worker at a cannery, Joan of Arc Foods. Within a few years, he steadily moved up in the company to become lead mechanic on a new type of food processing machine. Because of his natural mechanical skills and excellent work ethic, he was noticed by FMC Corporation, and was offered a position as a service representative. He would service FMC rotary and other types of sterilizers, also called “cookers” for many canneries across the country. He had a successful career and a loyal following of customers, but Bill still saw more for himself. In 1980, after working for FMC for 10 years, Bill parted ways with them, settled in Easton, and started his own cooker service company, Custom Cannery Service, Inc. Bill was very successful and always insisted on excellent customer service. He passed down his skills and values to his sons, who continue this thriving business, Bill’s legacy, to this day.
Bill made friends wherever he went and was a kind-hearted and generous person who always had a soft spot in his heart for the underdog. He never forgot that he had been given a job or a chance to prove himself a time or two early on and felt he should carry this forward, which he did, many times. He also loved travelling the country by car or RV, riding Harley-Davidson motorcycles, antiquing and watching old westerns. But Bill’s trademark, something he did so well and often, was telling his “old stories” of his many, interesting adventures.
Bill is survived by his beloved wife, Margaret “Maggie” Newman Danels of Easton, sons Tom Danels of Preston, Chris Danels and wife Natalie of Easton, his sons’ mother Shirley of Malden, MO, stepson Ralph Evers and his wife, Karen of Greensboro, NC, a very special niece, Lisa McCroskey and her husband, Phillip of Springfield, MO, grandsons Alex and Zach Danels of Easton, C.J. Preuss, Jonathan Preuss and fiancée Jessica, all of Greensboro, NC, great nephew Matthew McCroskey of Republic, MO, great niece Eden Allison, husband Caleb and their one month old daughter Claire of Kansas City, MO. Bill was overcome with joy recently to be able to meet and hold baby Claire. Bill is survived by many other cousins, nieces and nephews.
Bill was predeceased by his parents, Maude and Jeff Danels, brothers Troy and Roy Danels, sisters Ilene Carnell and Betty Woods.
