Daniel Keith Williams

Daniel Keith Williams, 76, of Grapevine, Texas, passed away peacefully and comfortably on July 24, 2026, surrounded by his two sons, Justin and Jonathan Williams. He was born August 29, 1949. Daniel was born and raised in Oak Cliff, Texas, and graduated from Kimball High School in 1967. He went on to North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas), where he majored in finance and earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in 1971. While there, he pledged Kappa Sigma fraternity, forming friendships that lasted the rest of his life, most notably his best friend Eddie. Ever the nomad, on a friend’s suggestion, he moved to Lake Tahoe to work at Harrah’s Casino. Daniel’s love of adventure kept him moving and traveling for the next several years, eventually making his way back home to Oak Cliff, TX on Colorado Avenue a few years later. It was there that him and his then-wife, Sherry, welcomed their first son, Justin, in October 1980. By then, Daniel was building a career as a Terminal Manager for Emery, the start of a long career in retail distribution. A few years later, Emery offered Daniel a transfer to Denver, Colorado, the very state his street was named after. The family made the move, and not long after settling in, Jonathan was born in May 1984. In 1995, Daniel made the decision to move back to Texas to be close to his sons and the rest of his family, a choice that reflected what always mattered most to him. His career later took him to Roadway and then FedEx, with stops along the way in Shreveport, Louisiana, San Antonio, Texas, and San Francisco, California, before he returned home to Texas for the final chapter of his career ahead of retirement. In retirement, Daniel made a point of staying close to the people he loved. He kept up with family and lifelong friends, rarely missed a game on television, and spent as much time as he could with his grandsons, Liam and Cameron. No matter where life had taken him, he always dropped everything to be there for his sons and grandsons. There was nothing more important to him than family, a devotion reflected in the extensive collection of photos and keepsakes he kept at home, each one a memory of the people he loved most. Daniel was preceded in death by his father, Howard (1908-1975), his mother, Marguerite (1907-1997), his brother, Howard, and his sisters, Marilyn and Anita. In a bittersweet turn, Daniel passed away on July 24th, the very same date his beloved mother had passed twenty-nine years earlier. He is survived by his oldest son, Justin Williams, and wife Stephanie, and their children Liam and Cameron; and his youngest son, Jonathan Williams; and many of his nieces and nephews and other family members who loved him dearly. A viewing and visitation will be held on Friday, July 31st from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., immediately followed by a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. at Distinctive Life Funeral Home (Dallas Jewish Funerals), 1611 N. Central Expressway, Plano, TX 75075. A burial will follow at 1:30 p.m. at Five Mile Cemetery in Oak Cliff, with a brief prayer at the graveside.

Daniel Keith Williams

August 29, 1949 - July 24, 2026