Daniel Brandon Lyle, 42, of Cypress, passed away on June 24, 2020, with his family by his side.
Funeral services will be 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 30, 2020, at Claybar Kelley-Watkins Funeral Home in Beaumont. Officiating will be Pastor Jeremy Walton. Burial will follow at Restlawn Memorial Park in Vidor.
Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., prior to the funeral service, at Claybar Kelley-Watkins in Beaumont.
Born in Beaumont, Texas, on January 29, 1978, he was the son of W. Roger Lyle and Dora Dorest (Hannah) Lyle.
Daniel was a happy child and loved spending time with his family. Being respectful and kind came easy to him and the Lord gave him a personality that found joy in helping others. His heart held special places for his mother, sister, grandmothers, niece, and nephew.
Early on, Daniel was attracted to sports. If there was a ball to throw or a stick to hit it, he was ready to go. This served him well when he was in the fifth grade and his family moved to California. His Texas accent made him different, but he quickly assimilated with his classmates playing baseball, football, soccer, and basketball. In high school, a severe knee injury ended his time as a power running back. After a bit of frustration with golf, he connected with a disabled coach and soon was playing par and sub-par rounds with his team. As an adult, anyone who golfed with him was astonished by his 300-yard drives and 195-yard #6 iron shots. His swing speed was off the charts and his hands so strong that he broke several shafts out of his first pro-level set of clubs.
After graduating from South High School in Torrance, CA, and while attending Junior College, Daniel worked for Delta Airlines and made good use of his benefits. He vacationed in Southeast Asia, Japan, Hawaii, Jamaica, and other Caribbean Islands. He generously arranged quick trips for his parents to attend the Grand Ole Opry and to visit family in Texas.
Upon moving back to Texas, Daniel’s interest in automobiles led him to become a technician and then a service advisor leading a team of technicians for BMW. He met his best friend there and gained an appreciation for Latin and Vietnamese people and their cultures. He also picked up enough Spanish to be functional. He understood the conversations but spoke Spanish reluctantly because his drawl was still evident.
While studying engineering at Lamar University, he found he had a brain tumor. Characteristic of Daniel, he never complained or allowed himself to look back. After multiple surgeries, radiation and his first courses of chemotherapy Daniel enrolled in college again and secured an Associate of Arts and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management. As the tumor kept recurring, he remained positive and powered through. He enrolled at Texas A&M and was finishing the final course that would allow him to graduate with a Masters Degree in Finance when his doctor told him he should drop it because he needed another surgery. Later, when his best hope was to undergo a 2nd round of brain radiation, the doctor told him almost no one subjected themselves to this. Daniel’s response was “I choose life so let’s get started”. His goal was to complete the Masters Degree in Finance and work at MD Anderson. He wanted to be there to personally provide help and inspiration to people in similar circumstances.
In his final months, he knew things were slipping because of increasing problems with language and right-sided weakness. Again, no complaining, just more exercise and fighting the symptoms. Recently, when his uncle needed weeks of radiation at MD Anderson, Daniel continued to show his heart and helped his uncle navigate through the electronic communications, scheduling, and understanding what to expect through the course of his treatment.
Daniel was a Baptized Christian and proud of the Christian heritage from his family. The family is comforted that Daniel is now with his Savior and family that has preceded him, and has heard the words “Well done thy good and faithful servant”.
“Faithful servants have a way of knowing answered prayer when they see it, and a way of not giving up when they don't.” (author Max Lucado)
He was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Wallace Lyle and Frank Hannah, Sr.; and uncle, Theron Lyle.
He is survived by his parents, W. Roger and Dora Lyle of Cypress; sister, Laura Ann Lyle Lovitt and husband Robert of Cypress; and niece and nephew, Roger and Ruby Lovitt; grandparents, Ruby Hannah of Vidor, and Barbara Hinch Lyle of Vidor; aunt, Debra Lyle and husband Tom Padia of Beaumont; aunt, Denise Lyle; uncle, Frank “Frankie” Hannah and wife Debbie of Vidor; uncle, Alden Hannah and Carol Ramsey of Vidor; aunt, Donna Rash and husband Randy of Lumberton and cousins, Wallace Olmedo, Jason Olmedo, Emily Olmedo Zambardino, Cody Williams, Joshua Lyle, Karla Taylor, Brian Leatherwood, Jamie White, Derrick Hannah, Melissa Bailey, Erika Hunter, Frank “Chip” Hannah, III.
Serving as pallbearers will be Edgar Cruz, Matt Rugh, Jake Hunter, Derrick Hannah, Brian Leatherwood, Chip Hannah, and Gabe Emfinger.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Dr. Marnie Rose Foundation at www.drmarnierose.org . This foundation funds brain cancer research at MD Anderson as well as other initiatives at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital.