Samuel Maurice Danner, 98, of Palacios passed away October 10, 2007. He was born in Thomas, OK on April 30, 1909. He was 1 of 6 children born to the late Lillie B. and Henry L. Danner. He married his high school sweetheart, Opal Joyce Cooke right after their high school graduation and they remained in love for 63 years, until she died of cancer. He later married Lurlie McCall, but they only enjoyed being together for 10 years before she died.
Sam, as he was called, went to work in the gasoline recycling industry shortly after his marriage, and they made several moves before coming to Texas to work for H. B. Zachery at the Francitas Gas Plant located in Deutschburg. In the early 1950's he went to work for Trunkline Gas Company and was supervisor for a plant in Illinois, one in Shaw, MS for several years, and then in the same capacity at Kaplan, LA. While living in Louisiana, they traveled weekends to Sargent, Texas and Sam built a small house there. Duke Energy contacted him when he retired, and he worked for them as a consultant at several pipeline plants in the Laredo area. They sold the house in Sargent and built a log cabin on 12th Street in Palacios to be near their only two daughters. Sam lived there alone for several years before his physical health began to deteriorate, so he sold the log cabin and built an efficiency- apartment off the patio from his daughter, Myra. Sam has lived the last few years in the Matagorda House Healthcare Center of the Legacy campus in Bay City, Texas. His exceptional and alert mind never failed him as he kept abreast of all the world happenings and all the sports events. Sam was only a high school graduate, but was always studying about machinery and ways to better educate himself. He was a "do it yourself" guy who could fix anything including the early radios and T.V.'s . His best asset was that he was a decent, honorable, kind man who loved his family above all else. During their early years raising a family the funds were tight, and they lived frugally, but the family of four was very happy and had fun together. Church was an important part of their life. The attached picture was taken two months before his 98th birthday.

He is survived by his daughters Anita Joyce Frankson of Bay City and Myra Brhlik of Palacios; 5 grandsons Buddy Brhlik & wife Susan, Rusty Brhlik & wife Cheryl, Jim Frankson & wife Diana, Sam Frankson & wife Susan and Donald Frankson; 4 great grandsons Ryan Brhlik & wife Sara, Joe Paul Brhlik, Matthew Frankson and Erik Frankson; five great granddaughters Stephanie Brhlik, Kristi Brhlik, Ashley Frankson, Megan Frankson and Mary Catherine Frankson ; his 95 year old sister, Bessie Alice Tyler of Watonga, Oklahoma and former son-in-law M. C. "Kiff" Frankson.
The family will receive friends and relatives from 6PM to 8PM Friday at the funeral home. Graveside service will be 10:00 AM Saturday, October 13, 2007 at Hawley Cemetery in Blessing with Rev. June White officiating.