Marvin Daniel Blackburn

left us for Heaven on Wednesday, May 15, 2019. No longer held captive to

cancer, he is now whole again, embraced in the arms of his grandparents,

Marvin Daniel and Mary Blackburn and Falba Foster, and parents, Cynthia

Foster Blackburn and Dr. Marvin Daniel Blackburn, Jr. Daniel is survived by

Barry Creel, his husband of almost 27 years, his cousins who loved their

‘Danny’ dearly, a multitude of friends, and his beloved Boston Terrier,

Scooter.

Born on September 24, 1943, in St. Petersburg, Florida, Daniel got to

Texas as fast as he could! He was a proud Texan, living in Dallas all his life.

He was a graduate of Ben Milam Elementary, Highland Park High School,

and SMU for his undergraduate and graduate degrees. Summers during

college were full of happiness in the outdoors as he worked for the YMCA

at Camp Grady Spruce.

When Daniel was a young tyke he joined the Cub Scouts, where his

grandmother, Mary Blackburn was the Den Mother. Daniel loved Scouting,

and continued in Boy Scouts to the point of achieving the rank of Eagle

Scout. After his official days as a Boy Scout were over, Daniel served for

several years as a Scout Master. During those years Dan traveled with his

scouts for multiple hiking trips in Colorado, as well as many ventures to

Philmont Scout Ranch. Dan thought Philmont was heaven on Earth, and

would reminisce about time spent there throughout his life.

After working for the YMCA and graduating from SMU, Daniel began

his career with the Richardson ISD, teaching high school journalism and

psychology at Berkner High School. He loved those years teaching

students “who wanted to be there.” Later Dan was asked to move into

administration, working in public relations and helped get the “World Wide

Web” into Richardson schools for the first time. Daniel was well loved by all

his student and colleagues in Richardson and made many friends while

there. Daniel retired from the RISD in 1998 to expand one of his

entrepreneurial ventures—Bed & Breakfast Inns of North America, the first

Bed & Breakfast directory on the internet. This venture opened up

opportunities for travel to many of the Inns around the country, making new

friends along the way.

Growing up in Dallas, Daniel was raised by his Blackburn

grandparents, and had many happy memories living on Travis Street.

Daniel would talk often of how he and his grandfather, Pop, would walk up

the railroad track, which is now the Katy Trail, to enjoy some ice cream at

Highland Park Pharmacy. When Dan began middle school, his

grandparents moved to one of the cottage homes on Stanford Avenue in

University Park, where Dan lived until 1996.

Daniel attended Oak Lawn United Methodist Church with his

grandparents, where he remembered making stained glass windows with

melted crayon wax. Later, they would join Highland Park United Methodist

Church where they were members for many years. In the early 90’s Dan

joined The Cathedral of Hope, and through friends there, he was

introduced to Barry Creel, a Kindergarten teacher, and from that

introduction on October 10, 1992, his life would be forever changed.

From the first introduction, Daniel and Barry discovered they were

kindred souls, and would treasure a relationship together for the next 26

years, 7 months, and 5 days. During those years Daniel and Barry enjoyed

travel around the country, and cruises around Hawaii and to Europe. Daniel

and Barry were known for hosting many events and parties in their home,

welcoming hundreds of friends over the years. While Barry’s talents were

inside the home, Daniel’s expertise was outside. He loved to create

beautiful gardens, and had the greenest of thumbs! This was evident as he

studied to become a Dallas Master Gardener.

All who have ever met Daniel were embraced by his kind and gentle

spirit. If there was ever a man who never took off his rose colored glasses,

it was Daniel. He saw the best in everyone. He was not cynical or sarcastic.

He always wanted the other person he was with to feel at ease and valued.

Daniel was meticulous—his T’s were always crossed, and his I’s were

always dotted. He could wire up a sound system, put a dimmer on a light

switch, whip up a mean dish of Deviled Eggs, and send morse code to a

vessel in need. Given enough time, Dan could probably send up a smoke

signal from a campfire he started with two sticks and a mirror reflecting the

sun. A true Boy Scout, he was ALWAYS prepared!

Of all the talents and gifts Dan was blessed with, the greatest will be

the love he held for his husband Barry. An abiding love between them was

shared to Daniel’s last breath. Barry held Daniel’s hand has he drew his

last, and it was the most precious, though heartbreaking moment they

shared together.

“Because I knew you, I have been changed for good…”

Visitation in Daniel’s honor, Monday, May 20, 6-8pm at Sparkman-Hillcrest Funeral Home.

Memorial Service, Saturday, June 8, 11am at Oak Lawn United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Daniel's memory to Incarnation Academy, the school where Barry teaches. Incarnation has been such a help to Barry this past year as he has cared for Daniel, especially at the end of his life. Memorials in Daniel's memory will go to something special to enrich the lives of the students, so that his memory may always be a blessing. Barry can think of no better way to honor Dan!

Incarnation Academy

3966 McKinney Avenue

Dallas, TX 75204