Richard Lawton McDaniel

It is with full hearts we announce that Richard Lawton McDaniel passed peacefully on July 17, 2025, at his son Richard's home in Tuttle, Oklahoma where he had been living since losing his wife Nan of 66 years. Richard was born March 16,1930 to Lawton and Florance McDaniel. He was raised in Wallowa graduating from Wallowa High School in 1948 and after graduating he attended both the University of Oregon and Oregon State. in 1951 Richard joined the Navy and served in the Sea-Bees, stationed in Morocco until his discharge in 1953. After his time in the Navy, he returned to U of O and completed a B.S. Economics. While at U of O Richard met and married Nan Mimnaugh in 1956. In 1962 he began working for the newly formed Pease Corps his first assignment was to manage a training camp in Puerto Rico and from there he went on to serve as the Deputy Director Peace Corps in Gabon, West Africa from 1963 - 1966. During his time in Gabon he oversaw the building of 30 rural schools and more than 70 homes for teachers. While in Gabon Richard and Nan's son Richard was born. Scott and Nan were born after they returned to the USA. After a time as a logging contractor in Wallowa he took a job as the Director of Housing at SOC in Asland in 1967. In 1976 he returned to Eastern Oregon to the home he and Nan shared for 47 years. Richard was well known in LaGrande and served many years on the LaGrande School Board. Well into his 80s Richard would ride his bike from his home on Geckler Lane to one of the gyms in town to workout. Richard enjoyed hunting, gardening and spending time at the McDaniel family cabin on Bear Creek. 

Richard was proceeded in death by his parents, siblings, Donna (Skovlin), Doug and Keith

 Richard is survived by his children Rich (Trish), Scott (Rhonda) and Nan (Kurt) seven grandkids Dalton, Wesly, Jessie, Cray, Jett, Sarah, Chandler and many beloved nieces and nephews.