Katherine Elizabeth "Katy" Berly Daniel

Katherine Elizabeth (Katy) Berly Daniel of Texarkana, Arkansas passed away peacefully at home on November 14, 2020 surrounded by her family, following a six-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Katy’s family will be forever grateful for the loving care provided by the compassionate nurses of Hospice of Texarkana.

Katy was born on March 2, 1934 at the home of her parents, Wesley and Fern Berly, near Gillham, Arkansas. Katy was a Christian, and she worshipped with the Arkansas Boulevard Church of Christ in Texarkana. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, William (Bill) Berly.

Katy graduated from Gillham High School in 1951. She had always aspired to go to college to be a teacher, but following high school graduation, financial issues prevented her from immediately fulfilling that aspiration. Instead, she went to work and in 1956 joined the SWEPCO team in DeQueen, Arkansas. One day, a SWEPCO mechanic entered the office and announced, “I’m available now.” That mechanic was Bobby L. Daniel, and he and Katy married on June 24, 1958. They had two daughters, Danita and Mollie.

In 1970, Katy began working in the Texarkana, Arkansas school system as a teacher’s aide. And in 1972 she enrolled in Texarkana Community College and later in East Texas State University – Texarkana where she graduated in 1978 with a degree in primary education.

She then fulfilled her earlier aspiration, teaching at Carver Elementary School and at Trice Elementary School until her retirement in 1994. After retirement, she and Bobby traveled and then settled down to work with their Church and other volunteer activities including assisting the Red Cross and serving for many years as President of the Texarkana, Arkansas Retired Teachers Association.

Katy also was an avid reader – especially her Bible -- she loved to sing and was a self-taught painter. Several of her paintings are on display in the 1894 Gallery.

Katy is survived by her husband, Bobby L. Daniel, her two daughters and sons-in-law, Danita and Paul Ostling of New Canaan, Connecticut and Mollie and Lance Teachworth of Superior, Nebraska and six grandchildren, Laura Teachworth Heller (Taylor), Jacob Ostling, Kaitlin Ostling, Sarah Teachworth, Kirsten Ostling and Daniel Teachworth.

Funeral services will be held at East Funeral Home Downtown on Wednesday, November 18 at 10:00 am with Mr. Steve McIntosh and Mr. Bill Dempsey officiating. Pallbearers will be Katy’s sons-in-law and grandsons, assisted by Taylor Heller and Greg McNatt. Honorary pallbearers will be Mack Lawrence and Marc Reese. Internment will be in Memorial Gardens, Texarkana, Arkansas.

Come and go visitation will be 4pm to 8pm Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at the funeral home.

Online tributes can be posted at www.eastfuneralhomes.com.