Mary Louise McDaniel

Mary Louise McDaniel passed away peacefully on April 16, 2024 at the age of 72. A lifelong resident of Leonardtown, Maryland, Mary Louise was born on January 19, 1952. She was the daughter of Benjamin Samuel Goddard and Mary Louise Goddard. She was a graduate of the Class of 1969 at Chopticon High School. After graduation, she worked at the local Ben Franklin for many years in various positions leading up to warehouse manager. Following her work at Ben Franklin, Mary Louise started work at a warehouse in St. Inigoes and became a financial manager for the Department of the Navy at Patuxent River Naval Air Station. Mary Louise retired as a financial manager after 32 years. She enjoyed gardening and flowers, especially lilies and hostas, holidays, particularly Christmas, a good deal on groceries, and especially her role within her family, always working to please and serve as she thought best. She also enjoyed volunteering in the community and helping with the Farm and Garden exhibitions at the St. Mary’s County Fair. She worked for many years as the gate attendant at the cattle gate. A dedicated mother, Mary Louise was blessed with two children, Christopher Todd McDaniel and Megan Marie McDaniel. She loved spending time with her family. Mary Louise was overjoyed to be a grandmother and loved playing with her granddaughter, Joanie Elizabeth McDaniel. She is preceded in death by her parents, Benjamin Samuel Goddard and Mary Louise Goddard, her sister, Rose Marie Goldsborough, her nephew, Benjamin Raymond Birch, and her husband, Walter Curtis McDaniel. She is survived by her children, Christopher Todd McDaniel (Kristin), and Megan Marie McDaniel, her granddaughter, Joanie Elizabeth McDaniel, sisters Josephine Ann Scully and Agnes Elizabeth Birch, as well as her nieces, Jennifer Marie Butler, Mary Ruth Jackson, Katie Ann Birch, and Leslie Renee Montgomery. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, from 5:00 PM to 8:00PM with prayers recited at 7:00 PM at the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, MD. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, May 2nd, 2024 at 10:00AM at Our Lady’s Church of Medley’s Neck, Leonardtown, MD, with Father John Ngyuen officiating. Interment will follow in the Our Lady’s Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be James L. Knott, Stephen Goddard, Clarence Goddard III, Timothy Buhler, John Fenwick, and Wesley Cory. James Knott will serve as honorary pallbearer. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Our Lady’s Cemetery Society, P.O. Box 1226, Leonardtown, MD 20650 and/or the American Cancer Society. Condolences may be made to the family at www.mgfh.com.