Daniel "Danny" Choate

Daniel “Danny” Clay Choate, 58, went home to be with the Lord on August 9th, 2023; he always wanted to leave early to get to places, and to our great sadness he left to go to heaven early as well. He left behind his heart, his joy, his other-half, and his “babe” Gracie. Danny also left behind his greatest creations: Monica, D.C., and J.D. – who will continue his life’s work and most important responsibility; taking care of Gracie. Grieving with Monica is son-in-law (although considered a son as well) Dan.  Mourning with DC is daughter-in-law Courtney. Missing their Papa is grandchildren Junior, Steven, and Seth. Uplifting and comforting JD is his partner Kevin. Danny also left behind the other most important woman in his life, his momma, Nancy, and his best-friend since he was born, his brother, David and wife, Claire. Also mourning him are an immeasurable amount of family, friends, and loved ones. Waiting to greet him with open arms in the Gloryland is his sister, Tina, his daddy, J.D., his Granny Taylor, and his father-in-law, Eliseo.

Danny graced this world with his presence starting on March 14th, 1965. He grew up in Mineral Wells, Texas, along with his partners in crime David & Tina. He was a good kid, although he was rowdy - something that never changed! He was a bit of a “bad boy” but always had the biggest heart and would always protect his family. He had a close-knit friend group that has stayed the same through all these years: Mike, Willy, Vance, and Richard. They ran around everywhere together, playing softball, wrestling, fishing, you name it! David remembers on more than one occasion when they would all play softball, the other team (not knowing Danny) would say, “little guy, little guy, go ahead and scoot in!” when it was his turn to bat. Obviously, they didn’t know Danny Clay, because that ball went over the fence.  His best friend growing up was Michael “Mike” Johnson. Mike did a lot of great things for Danny, but the greatest of all was setting him up to meet the love of his life, Gracie.

Danny worked many jobs in his life, being handsome was his main one but unfortunately that one never paid too well! He would do odds and ends for farmers growing up, worked at Winn Dixie, and Cantex, to name a few. His favorite and longest running job though, was being a painter. If you drive through any neighborhood in town, you have passed a house that Danny has worked on. He had a motto: “I might take a little longer to get it done, but I guarantee you won’t have to call me back to fix one thing”. If you ever hired him, you knew that to be true. That was who Danny was though: honest, hardworking, and considerate - traits all of us children strive to live up to.

To know Danny was to know one of the most incredible, loving, and kind men around. He liked things simple. He loved the color yellow, sports, game-shows like Wheel of Fortune, animals, country music, fishing, golfing, hunting, relaxing, and his trips to the casino to play his favorite slot machine. There are no words to convey accurately the grief all of us are enduring. For him though, we will keep on; as Dad would always say, “It will all work out.”  If there is one thing in this world he wanted, it was for all of us to be happy. Dad, I promise you we will try. And as you used to say to us all the time when we would leave the house, “watch for critters” on your way to heaven.

Visitation will be held 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Funeral services will be held 10 a.m., Thursday, August 17, 2023 at Baum-Carlock-Bumgardner Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow at Woodland Park Cemetery.