Wayne Lawrence McDaniel, “Coach Mac,” went to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, March 14, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Boise City, Oklahoma, on Sept. 22, 1935, to Roscoe and Edna McDaniel.
During his childhood, they lived in Ashton, and then Walnut, before moving to Thayer. Wayne attended Thayer High School, where he met his high school sweetheart, Mary Ellen Holtzman. After graduating in 1953, he attended Neosho County Community College for two years and graduated in 1955. During his high school and junior college summers, he worked for a local farmer doing traveling wheat harvest. Wayne and Mary were married in June of 1955. Wayne then attended Pittsburg State University for a teaching degree and graduated in 1957.
After graduation, they moved to Fall River, where he was offered a teaching job and would later have his two children. In 1963, he moved to Carl Junction, Misouri, for another teaching position. In 1965, Wayne and Mary made their home in Chanute, where Wayne was offered a teaching job at Chanute High School to teach Industrial Education and Woodworking. He received his master’s degree from Pittsburg in 1967. He continued his teaching of woodworking and also taught electricity and a new COT Program. He also taught night woodworking, furniture refinishing, and upholstery classes for adults. To help provide for his family, Wayne did carpentry and work nights after teaching school all day, on Saturdays, and during the summers.
Wayne was a Boy Scout Leader while his son Randy was in scouts. Both were active until Randy received his Eagle Scout. He started coaching girls’ basketball in 1978 and coached them for 10 years. Then he started coaching girls’ volleyball in 1984. He coached both sports for three years, then just coached volleyball until he retired in 1993. A few years later, he was asked to come out of retirement to coach volleyball for a few more years.
His love for his family was fierce. He was always present and always supportive of his kids and grandkids in all that they did. Never stopped teaching them everything he knew in life. He was very proud of his grandkids. When the great-grandkids came along, he found a joy in them that was beyond special.
His love for the Lord came first and foremost. He dedicated his life to serving the Lord through teaching children’s Sunday School and doing carpentry work for the church. After retirement, he continued his carpentry work.
Wayne and Mary started camping in their fifth wheel with friends. Traveling to several different lakes. He liked camping, but his true love was fishing. They also enjoyed playing bridge with friends for years. They passed their love of card games to their kids and grandkids. After 42 years of marriage, he lost his Mary to cancer in 1997.
Later, he married Suzanne in 1999, and they enjoyed 26 years together. They continued to travel all over and made it to all 50 states. They were stained glass enthusiasts and made beautiful things for their friends and families.
Wayne and Suzanne volunteered together at St. Pat’s Thrift Store. Wayne was very active in Operation Soupline. He did maintenance projects at the Cherry Street Youth Center, started a Widows Ministry that provided materials, and provided the labor for free.
Throughout his life, his love for KU Basketball never wavered.
Wayne possessed a positive outlook on life, carried a contagious smile, and was always willing to help anyone in need.
Surviving are: his wife Suzanne of the home; his son: Randy (Patty), Carl Junction, Missouri; his daughter: Sandy Hand, Chanute; stepsons: Mark (Loan) Sears, Venice, Florida; Phil (Heather) Sears, McKinney, Texas; Steve Sears, Dallas, Texas; Sisters: Leola Hensley, Canton, Georgia; Mary Louise (John) Richter, Topeka; his grandkids: Molly (Luke) Hagedorn, Amanda (Tyson) Reimer, Anthony (Serena) Keenan, Matthew Keenan, Lauren Sears, Natalie (Ryan) Nanney, Taylor Sears, Alex (Jessica) Sears, Austin Sears, Jeremy Hanson and Brandon Kean; his great-grandkids: Brooksley, Delilah, Henry, Ryland, Riley, Stella, Elijah, Austin, Elliott, and several nieces and nephews.
Preceded in Death by: his parents, his wife Mary Ellen, his sister Betty Matheney, and a son-in-law, Darrell Hand.
In place of flowers, memorials are suggested to Cherry Street Youth Center and can be mailed to or left with Wickham Family Funeral Home, 500 N. Forest Ave., Chanute, Kansas 66720.
Visitation will take place on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at Otterbein Community Church, 631 West 7th St., Chanute, from 10 to 11 a.m., followed by a Celebration of Life Memorial Service. A private family burial will take place after the service at Thayer Cemetery, Thayer, Kansas. Services are under the personal care of Wickham Family Funeral Home.
