Dan is survived by his children, Linda and husband Harold Riffe, Sue and husband James Boston, grandchildren Johnathan, Jason, Daniel, Brittany, Tiffany, and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by parents Daniel and Susanna Gates, wife and soulmate, Florence, and siblings Mabel, Marie, O’Conner, and Shirley.
Dan was born on May 27, 1933 in the town of Old Waverly, Texas to Daniel and Susanna Gates. He graduated from Huntsville High School in 1951 and attended Victoria College where he received an associate degree. He married Florence Pieper, the love of his life, in August of 1953. Shortly after, in 1954, he welcomed his first daughter, Linda, the apple of his eye and milk shake buddy. Dan was drafted into the army in 1954 where he served as a medic and saw the King himself, Elvis Presley, Thank you…Thank you very much.
After being discharged in 1956, he began working for Champion Paper in Pasadena Texas where he made a career out of being a millwright for the majority of his time with the company. During the following years, he welcomed his second daughter - - the golden child, smart-aleck, sweet little Susie.
Dan later retired from Simpson in September of 1994, moving to Conroe, Texas to live out retirement with his wife, who passed away shortly after, in May 1995.
Dan enjoyed time with his family and friends. He was truly nothing short of a family man. One of the many joys of his life was taking every grandchild, great grandchild, niece and nephew for a ride on the “Red” tractor. He enjoyed working with wood and frequently made deposits at the casinos. He will be dearly missed by his family.
The family will receive friends for visitation on Tuesday, January 21, 2020 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Grand View Funeral Home, 8501 Spencer Highway, Pasadena, Texas 77505. A Celebration of Life service will be at 2:00pm on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at Grand View Funeral Home with the committal service following immediately at Grand View Memorial Park.
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