Obituary for Jerald Lewis Daniels

Jerry was born on Jan. 23, 1948 in Miami, Ariz. to the late Vernon and Dorothy Daniels. Jerry, also known as J. D., was a three-sport athlete at Miami High School, graduating in 1966. He then attended Arizona State University, majoring in history.
On June 5, 1970, Jerry married the love of his life, Darlene Warter. He taught at Miami High School from 1971 until 1974. From 1974 until 1985, the Daniels family lived in Tucson where Jerry taught at Sunnyside High School. In 1985, he moved his family to Payson. After a short stint out of the classroom, he taught at Payson High School from 1988 until his retirement in 2010.
During his 36 years of teaching, Jerry also coached boys’ basketball, girls’ basketball, softball, baseball and football, impacting the lives of thousands of young men and women. Jerry passed away on July 9, 2014 after a year-and-a-half long battle with cancer.
Jerry is survived by his wife, Darlene; his four sons, D. J., David (Melissa), Derek and Daren; four grandchildren, Jason, Emily, Troy and Shea; and his mother-in-law, Myrtle Warter. He will be remembered as a loyal and loving husband, father and friend.
Friends are warmly invited to join Jerry’s family to celebrate his life at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, July 19, 2014 at Mountain Bible Church, 302 E. Rancho Rd. in Payson.