Daniel Edward Chalmers

Services for Daniel Chalmers, 90, of Gainesville, will be held on Friday Dec. 5, 2008, at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Don Yeager officiating.

Burial will follow at the Fairview Cemetery.

Daniel Edward Chalmers passed from this earth to his heavenly reward on Dec. 3, 2008. He was born in Justin on Dec. 13, 1917, and graduated from Gainesville High School in 1935. He was the first football player from Gainesville selected as All-State. He played in the first Texas High School Coaches Association All-Star football game. After graduation, he attended Murray State College in Tishomingo, Okla. for two years where he was named to the all conference football teams for two years. He then attended East Central College in Ada, Okla. where he was named to the all conference football team in 1940. Dan was also a member of the Southwest Football Officials Association for 15 years. Dan enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard serving for two years. Upon returning to Gainesville, he went to work for the U.S. Post Office for the next 40 years retiring in 1982. He served as a money order clerk and in his last few years as a rural carrier.

He married Dixie Jane Enderby on March 9, 1943. They were married for 59 years until her death in 2002. Dan joined the First United Methodist Church in Gainesville in 1923, where he was a member of the Friendship Class and was the oldest and longest serving member until his death. He served as a Sunday school teacher, scoutmaster, chairman of the board and was head usher for a number of years. He was also active in his community as a coach of the Optimist team in the Little League and served as president of the league for several years. While a member of the Optimist Club, he ran the annual Christmas tree sales lot for a few years as well. He was a member of the Gainesville Boat Club on Lake Texoma for 45 years serving in various offices. He was an avid fisherman.

He is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Sue and Glenn Gordon of Eugene, Ore; his daughter, Julia Cunningham of Garland; his son and daughter-in-law, Matt and Ruthie Chalmers of Gainesville; granddaughters, Kace Schwarm, Sheri Overton, Tenielle Clement; grandsons, Stewart Chalmers, Brad Cunningham and Wade Cunningham and seven great-grandchildren.

The family visitation is set for Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Geo. J. Carroll Funeral Home.

ADV.