Daniel Willie Sless was born on July 17, 1936, to the late Willie and Esther Sless in Ganado, TX, where he lived all of his life. He graduated from Ganado High School and enlisted in the United States Army to serve a full term. On April 22, 1961, he married the love of his life, Wilma Quinn, and had three children David, Darrell, and Danny who learned from him how to live with love and integrity. They shared together his sense of humor and love for the outdoors.

Daniel worked at Alcoa for 30 years where he retired in 1992, but that wasn’t his only job. Daniel and Wilma pursued many operations to include running the liquor store, raising Emus and some deer, making homemade wine, and keeping after their pecan orchard where he spent many long hours with his children and grandchildren. Daniel loved picking satsumas and his garden goods to share with his many grandchildren and great grandchildren, to whom he is known as PoPo and Big PoPo.

In his latter days, Daniel looked forward to being picked up by his son David to go have a few beers at KC’s bar. He also enjoyed gathering with his loved ones at birthdays and holidays, where you could always find him mingling around the sweets. He loved baking and showing off his homemade buttermilk pies. He even created his own concoction to include his pecans caramelized and baked on top. Daniel’s sense of humor kept everyone with a smile on their face. He always had a joke up his sleeve, but his favorite was that yankee doodle joke he told countless times and his famous rooster coin he tricked many into rubbing for “good luck”.

Daniel spent his final weeks of life being cared for at home by his grandson Brandon, just as he asked. Daniel went to be with our Lord on July 8, 2024, at age 87. While our hearts mourn Daniel’s loss, we take comfort in knowing he will celebrate his 88th Birthday with his loved ones that preceded him in death to include his parents Willie and Esther, sister Loriene Davis, wife Wilma, and son Darrell. He is survived by his sons Danny and David, daughter in laws Molly and Sarah, sister Betty Jean Pemberton, grandchildren Dustin and Catherine, Destiny, Troy and Kristin, Derek, Brandon, Chelsey and Ryan, and Great Grandchildren Daylan, Riley, Parker, Emma, Gabriel, Abygail, Colton, Bailey, Jordyn, Cora, and Reese.

The family will receive visitors on Sunday July 14, 2024, at the Ganado Funeral Home chapel from 5:00pm-7:00pm with a rosary being recited at 6:00pm.  A funeral mass will be held on Monday July 15, 2024, at Assumption Catholic Church at 10:00am with interment to follow at Assumption Catholic Cemetery.  Services entrusted to the Todish family of Ganado Funeral Home.