Pearl Clements Mcdaniel

Pearl McDaniel was born June 4th, 1924 on a small farm near Pitts, Georgia. She was the daughter of Effie Lou and Levi Jackson Clements and the second oldest of nine brothers and sisters. True to her independent nature and desire to experience life to its fullest, she left Georgia immediately after high school and moved to Hollywood, California where she lived with an Aunt and Uncle during the World War II years. While there, she worked at the Hughes Aircraft factory and other facilities manufacturing aircraft for the war effort as a true “Rosie the Riveter.” Later, she began training to be a nurse at the Seaside Memorial Hospital in Long Beach, California where she remained for a year and a half before choosing to pursue work in retail sales. During this period of her life, she moved to Fresno, California and was joined by her sister Murl. The two sisters attended a beauty college in Fresno where they became licensed beauticians and opened their own business, “The Beauty Den.” While in Fresno, Pearl met her future husband, Cecil A. McDaniel, who was a Captain in the U.S. Army and stationed at the Presidio of San Francisco, California. Pearl and Cecil were married on October, 4th 1952 at the First Methodist Church in Fresno and began their life together, which spanned 40 years until Cecil's death in 1992. During the first years of their marriage and associated time with the military, Pearl and Cecil traveled extensively and lived in many locations around the world as military assignments took them from San Francisco to Japan to El Paso, Texas, and finally back to San Francisco. Her vivid memories and stories of life in the post World War II years are known to all her family and friends. While at the Presidio of San Francisco in 1960, Pearl gave birth to her only child, Michael. As their time with the military came to an end, Pearl moved to San Jose, California where she and her family lived for many years surrounded by an ever expanding and lifelong network of friends. With the passage of time and as retirement years neared, Pearl moved with her family to Kerrville, Texas where she and Cecil focused their lives around Michael's high school and college experiences. During her many years of life in Kerrville, Pearl also dedicated herself to volunteer service at the local Veterans Affairs hospital, the Hill Country Youth Ranch, her local church, affiliated thrift shops, and the Red Cross blood bank. Following Cecil's death and Michael's permanent return to Texas after his own military career, Pearl moved to Arlington, Texas to be in close proximity to Michael, his wife Jaynie, and her two grandchildren, Grace and William. While residing in Arlington, Pearl became a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, volunteered extensively at the Nu2U Resale Thrift Store, was an active member of her Sunday school group, and served as a greeter at church. During these last years of her life, Pearl enjoyed the depth of friendships that she had established throughout her life and cherished the time she spent with her grandchildren. Family and friends were her greatest pleasure. Pearl was a woman of tremendous strength and boundless energy. Her service, hospitality, and generosity touched the lives of many and built a legacy that will continue for generations to come. Pearl is survived by her son, Michael, his wife, Jaynie, and her two grandchildren, Grace and William, of Arlington; her brother Edward Clements and her sisters Carol Kutz, Bobby Wilkerson, Jo Tiernan, Lee Tarrer, and Helen Hopper. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hill Country Youth Ranch, Nu2U Resale of Arlington Urban Ministries, or Trinity United Methodist Church of Arlington. When I'm Gone When I come to the end of my journey and I travel my last mile, Just forget if you can, that I ever frowned and remember only the smile. Forget unkind words I have spoken; remember some good I have done, Forget that I ever had a heartache and remember that I had loads of fun. Forget that I have stumbled and blundered and sometimes fell by the way, Remember I have fought some hard battles and won, ere the close of day. Then forget to grieve for my going, I would not have you sad for a day, But in summer just gather some flowers and remember the place where I lay. And come in the evening when the sun paints the sky in the west, Stand for a few moments beside me and remember only my best.