Daniel Webster Mcneil

Daniel Webster McNeil September 29, 1928 - February 24, 2007 Daniel Webster McNeil of Woodway passed away Saturday, February 24, 2007. Services will be at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, March 1, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Chapel with Dr. Steven Mansen and Mr. Henry Apperson officiating. Burial will follow at Stanford Chapel Cemetery on Chapel Road. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, February 28, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey. Dan was born to James Franklin McNeil and Libby Marie McNeil on September 29, 1928, in New Baden, TX. He was a member of Central Christian Church in Waco. He was raised and educated at the Waco State Home for Children and graduated from Baylor University Cum Laude with a BBA in 1949. He was in the U.S. Army 11th Airborne Division and saved almost every penny he earned, enabling him to purchase his first Dairy Queen. He survived and thrived despite suffering numerous sleep disorders, and those sleep disorders governed the activities of his entire life. His first Dairy Queen was in Jacksonville, TX in the spring of 1950. He opened a Gatesville store; was mayor of Gatesville from 1958-1962; and opened his first Waco store in 1964. At the peak of his Dairy Queen operation there were 20 locations in surrounding areas. Dan was president of the Texas Dairy Queen Association; Waco Restaurant Assoc; received numerous awards in his local and state organizations. He was preceded in death by his parents and his two brothers. He is survived by his wife, Rusty McNeil of Woodway; daughters, Vicki Evans of Plano; Dana Bachus and husband, Lee of Waco; Dean McNeil of Waco; and John Marc McNeil and wife, Susan of Waco; sisters, Iris Schrieber of Boise, Idaho and Marie Schmidt of Mountain View, CA; brothers, Les McNeil of Davis, CA and David McNeil of Waco; grandchildren, Daniel and Stacey Evans; Justin and Nathan Bachus; Jillian McNeil; and numerous nieces and nephews. Dan was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather and will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Pallbearers are Daniel Evans, Justin Bachus, Nathan Bachus, Bob Gwin, Mike Murray, Nathan Murrell, Bruce Mohr and Lee Bachus. The family encourages that memorials may be made to The Rapoport Foundation or the charity of choice. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey