Johnnie Mae McDaniel, 96, died Dec. 1, 2022, in Snowflake. She and Tillman McDaniel were married for 47 years when he passed away in 1987. In her early 20s, Johnnie moved to Arizona, where she lived the remainder of her life. Her parents taught her the importance of working hard at making an honest living. For many years, Johnnie worked as a telephone operator for Contel Telephone. She then worked for Babbitt’s Department Store in their “Ready to Wear Department” and later worked for Whipple’s Department Store. She also opened her own dress shop in Holbrook and appropriately named it Johnnie’s Fashions. The final 17 years of her working career were spent as a favorite cashier at El Rancho Mexican Restaurant in Holbrook. She loved people and people loved her! Johnnie was a faithful member of Holbrook’s First Baptist Church where she loved her church family. She was a devoted wife and mother. This incredible giving woman will be missed a great deal. Johnnie Mae is survived by her children, Tillman (Mary) McDaniel Jr., Carolyn Baldwin, Donna Huff and Michele (Greg) Duran; daughter-in-law, Cindy McDaniel; sister-in-law, Janice Grizzle; 21 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren with another on the way; and many great-great-grandchildren. Along with her parents and husband, Johnnie Mae was preceded in death by son, Wayne McDaniel; sons-in-law, Larry Baldwin and Joe Huff; and her brother, Henry Grizzle. The public viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., on Tuesday, Dec. 6, at Owens Livingston Mortuary Chapel, located at 409 N. First Ave., in Holbrook. The funeral service will begin 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 7, at the First Baptist Church of Holbrook, located at 360 N. First Ave. Interment will follow at Holbrook Cemetery, where she will be laid to rest alongside her forever sweetheart, Tillman.
