Ola Mae McDaniel

Ola Mae McDaniel passed away on Thursday, June 11, 2026 at Idabel, OK. She was born on September 6, 1943 in Hugo, OK, the daughter of John and Mattie McDaniel. At 18 months old, Ola Mae contracted Measles, Mumps, and Pneumonia causing a very high fever and nearly death. She had to learn to walk and talk again. At the age of 4 or 5 she again had a very high fever causing seizure disabilities and other deficits. Ola was not like a typical child, she was limited in her education, she never married or had children and she lived with her parents until their passing. After the loss of her parents, Ola spent the next few years between her sisters, Birdie and Geraldine finally residing full-time with Geraldine from 1997 on.  

Having her hair and nails done and dressing up was something Ola enjoyed. She spoke in 3rd person and when asking for you to fix her hair or paint her nails she would say "Paint her nails" or "Fix her hair". Her favorite food was ice cream and she could eat a cup full before getting not far from Braums & No brain freeze!! 

Her favorite thing though was drinking coffee. The first thing out of her mouth, often before even getting out of bed was "Get her some coffee", and anyone that walked by her chair was implored to get her coffee, If company came by to say hi... "Get her some coffee" she truly LOVED her coffee! 

Ola was mischeivious and sometimes rebellious, even argumentative at times! When talking to her or asking anything about anything her reply was always that someone else had done "it", often a sibling or other family member but if asked if it was Ola that did it, she'd shake her head vehemently "NO, Her is Mama's daughter"!

 After losing her sister & brother-in-law, Geraldine & Vince, Ola began to struggle with walking and she would often fall putting a strain on those taking care of her and because they didn't want her to be injured or hospitalized due to a fall the family made the difficult and heart wrenching decision to move her to Hills Nursing Home where she would have around the clock professional nursing care. To the families great surprise and delight, Ola not only adjusted well but came out of her shell. She participated in activities and would foot paddle her wheelchair to the table where the latest gossip was being discussed! 

During a recent stay at the hospital, Ola developed an over the moon crush on her young male nurse and she would light up when he came in to do her vitals and check on her. She would sit up straighter in the bed and jabber at him looking up at him dreamily even shocking us at one point by calling him by his name. She asked her niece Shelia if Birdie did it, and Shelia replied that maybe her nurse Brandon had done it, to which Ola said, "maybe Brandon did do it", grinning from ear to ear! Shelia said, "Ola may be 82 years old but her heart and her eyes have NO CLUE. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Birdie McDaniel Harger and Geraldine Hill; and brothers, Leonard McDaniel, Carl McDaniel, Troy McDaniel and Hubert McDaniel.

Ola is survived by her brother, Clarence McDaniel and wife, Lajuan of Hugo, OK; sister, Joyce Holt, of Garvin, OK; special caregiver nieces and nephews, Terry Adams, Sarah Ledford, Tom Adams, Shelia Herring, Marvin "Red" Hill and Heather Hill; along with many other nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Ola was loved and cherished by her family as well as her newfound friends at Hills Nursing Home and she will never know or comprehend the blessing that she was to all of us!

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 at the White Family Chapel with Bro Carl Dean Wilson and Bro. Russell McDaniel officiating. Interment will follow beside her parents at Forest Hill Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Monday, June 22, 2026 at the funeral home.

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