Dardanella Mcdaniel Franco

Dardanella McDaniel Franco went to be with her Lord and Savior on March 25, 2018 surrounded by family. She was born on May 17, 1925 in Ballinger, Texas to Jesse Byron and Vera Dalton McDaniel of Paint Rock. She was the youngest of four sisters and lived through the depression on a 40 acre dry land farm. She was the last of the children to leave home and worked with her father in the fields and with the livestock. He would brag on her and say he would as soon work with her as any man. She graduated from Paint Rock High School and went to work for North American Airplane Factory at their Dallas assembly plant where she helped in the war effort building World War II aircraft. She returned to San Angelo to be closer to her family and was employed for several years at the Decoty Coffee Co. During this time, Dardanella met and married the love of her life, Sam Franco, who was stationed at Goodfellow Air Force Base. A few years after marrying Sam in 1948 she opened and operated her own beauty salon which turned out to be a satisfying forty-year career. She enjoyed her profession very much and made many close friends. Dardanella and Sam's passion was ballroom dancing to Big Band music. They were members of the Terpsichorean and La Paloma Dance clubs. She and Sam were nearing their 50th wedding anniversary when he became ill and preceded her in death. She was a member of Glen Meadows Baptist Church, Joy Sunday School Class, and active in Silver Stars, which she enjoyed so much. After Sam's passing, she volunteered for many years at RSVP and helped wherever they needed her. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great-grandmother. She devoted her life to her family and was always there for her family. Mama, we miss you so much! I know you are in Daddy's arms dancing to the music you both loved so much, never to be apart again. I also know that because of her love for The Lord and her great gift of singing, she is singing in God's heavenly choir. Dardanella is survived by her only daughter, Becky Stewart and husband Jack, granddaughters Kimberly Stewart, Shelley Leake and husband Scott, great grandson Kolby Lee and fiance Shelby, great granddaughter Kinsey Lee, great great-grandson Levi Lee, and great granddaughter Lexi Leake, along with cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Sam, her parents, three sisters, Lola Munro, Ailene McDaniel and Jesse Sanford. We want to thank Dr. Raj Cheruku, Dr. Kent Gideon, Dr. Rudy Haddad, Dr. James Studt, Dr. Baraa Al-Hafaz of Houston, Dr. Steven McCloy and Hospice of San Angelo for their excellent care. We want to thank Hospice nurses, Ahmad, Amy, Charlene, Vicki, Kerry, and Jenny, also. They all blessed Mama and us with their excellent care and precious friendship. We also want to thank Nolan Mears, Jane Batista, Beatriz Martinez and Irma Sanchez for their loving care while Mother was at home. They have been a true blessing. A Visitation will be held at Harper Funeral Home from 5:00 to 7:00 PM Monday, March 26, 2018. A Graveside service will be held at Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens Tuesday, March 27 at 11:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Hospice of San Angelo, Critter Shack, or Concho Valley Paws.