Stephan Wayne Daniel

Stephan Wayne Daniel, known lovingly as Steve, Daddy, Papa and Stevie D, passed away on December 21, 2022, at the age of 69. He was born on September 18, 1953, in Evergreen, Alabama to Paul and Barbara Daniel and was raised in Columbia, SC. He moved to Nashville in 1973, married Becky Burton and had three children, Andrea, Monica and Burton. He graduated from Belmont University in Nashville in 1977. Steve was a man who truly never met a stranger. He became a salesman in 1985 with Stone Container and was in sales the remainder of his career, retiring from Florida’s Natural Orange Juice in 2014, one year after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

Steve was “the music man.” He loved all music, especially the blues. Music brought him comfort in his darkest hour and joy his entire life. One of his favorite things in life was live music and he loved attending concerts, big and small with family and friends. He remembered names and faces of musicians most people would never recognize and never passed up an opportunity to tell them in airports or in hotels how much he loved their music.

Steve was also a Florida Gator, a love he instilled in his children and grandchildren (but never his Bulldog wife.) He loved sports including golf, basketball and especially football and he loved nothing better than to be in the Swamp on Saturdays in the Fall. 

He was predeceased by his parents, Paul and Barbara and his brother Clay. He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Mary; his children, Andrea, Monica and Burton and his grandchildren who he adored; Jaden, Jalen and Chance. He was loved by many including his sister-in-law Anna and her husband, Norberto, Russ and Terrye Kibler, Dean and Julie McQuiddy and many nieces and nephews including Mac, Jodi and Ann who he loved so much. He is also survived by brothers, Paul and Terry and sister, Kathy.

Our family is extremely grateful to the staff at Rosecastle at Deerwood Memory Care Center and to ALG Senior who loved and cared for Steve during these last 3 ½ years. You made him feel special and loved and we thank you for that. And because of you, Mary was able to get a job as a dishwasher during the COVID lockdown and get back to Steve after 114 days. That job also made it possible for tens of thousands of Florida caregivers to reunite with their loved ones too. We were blessed to find a facility that truly cared and loved Steve, thank you.

A celebration of Steve’s life will be held on Wednesday, December 28, 2022 at 4pm at the Beaches Museum Chapel, 525 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach, Florida. All are welcome to join us in laughter, tears and especially song as we celebrate Steve with the music that he loved.

In lieu of flowers, we would appreciate your contribution to K9s for Warriors. As five-time puppy raisers and long-time supporters of this amazing organization we will be sponsoring and naming a service dog in Steve’s honor. To donate please go to http://support.k9sforwarriors.org/goto/InHonorOfSteveDaniel.