Daisy Mae Dishongh

Daisy Mae Dishongh passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, with her family by her side. Daisy was born to Johanna Hedwig McLean and Buford Franklin McLean in Kerrville, Texas on June 3, 1934. Her family moved to southeast Texas when she was very young, living in homes in Lynchburg and eventually Deer Park. As a pre-teen she dreamed of riding in the rodeo, maybe even becoming a barrel racer. Daisy graduated from Deer Park High School where she was an excellent student, elected Senior Class President and performed as Drum Major in the high school marching band. Some of her fondest childhood memories included spending summer weeks at Garner State Park with her family while cheering for the football teams from Deer Park and other local high schools. Not long thereafter, Daisy met a Navy man at a friend’s New Year’s Eve party. That man was Leonard Rayburn Dishongh and she married him in December 1953. Their partnership spanned over 63 years before Ray’s passing in 2017. Daisy and Ray raised their five children (two daughters and three sons) in three homes, finally settling in Deer Park. During those years Daisy managed a bustling household which was the central gathering spot for children’s and teens’ playmates, Daisy’s and Ray’s friends and many extended family gatherings. The family loved to take long camping trips to Lake Austin, the Davis Mountains and River Bend Campground on the Frio River. In later years Daisy worked in retail and in a hospital’s surgical center to help meet those college expenses and enhance savings for retirement.

Daisy had many interests. Watching her children participate in sports and other extracurricular activities was her favorite. She was an excellent seamstress and cook, a famously frugal shopper and spent many hours volunteering at sports and school activities. She and Ray loved to dance, whether in a Vegas ball room or in a smoky C&W joint. Daisy and Ray spent many of their retirement years in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas. They transformed an ordinary house into a special place for them and their many visitors with a wonderland of an outdoor space where all could enjoy the weather and wildlife. Daisy and Ray had an active social life, as always, with bridge games and trips to the nearby casinos with friends. Daisy was a member of the Red Hat Society chapter in the Village and organized a group of women, Daisy’s Ladies, for card playing and socializing. The past few years Daisy welcomed many new Great Grands, spent time in her daughters’ Sugar Land and Galveston homes and rooted relentlessly for her beloved Astros. Daisy was predeceased by her mother, father and brother Frank (“Bubba”).

Daisy is survived by her sister Hannah West and sister-in-law, Sharon McLean; her daughters and their spouses, Katherine and Robert Drake, Toni and James Beeman; her sons and their spouses, Allen and Huguette Dishongh, Frank and Johanna Dishongh and Bruce and Jenetta Dishongh. Daisy is also survived by 12 grandchildren and their spouses: Alexis Harper (husband Tony), Jacob Beeman (wife Kristen), Lauren Ladmirault (husband Michael), Shannon Argueta (husband Keith), Tracy Macha (husband Shayne), Grace Bowen (husband Jordan), Brett Beeman (wife Jordan), Olivia Dishongh (husband Donald McKellar), Cody Beeman (wife Bailey), as well as Ryan Dishongh, Jason Dishongh and Nathan Dishongh. Daisy is also survived by 14 great grandchildren: Autumn, Thomas, Lily, Alyssa, Annabelle, Logan, Ava, Luciana, Catalina, Reagan, Mason, Caroline, Evie, and Ellie, with Myer and Blake coming soon. She also leaves a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and friends to cherish her loving memory. The family gives a special thank you to her nephew, Dr. Brad McLean, Senior Pastor First Baptist Church New Braunfels, Texas for presiding at Daisy’s service and to Dr. Shiva Satish for his care of Daisy for 13 years. Donations may be made in the name of Daisy Dishongh to the Houston Astros Foundation.