Daniel Edward Preston

Daniel (Danny) Edward Preston

November 13, 1955 – July 25, 2023

Daniel (Danny) Preston passed away suddenly on July 25, 2023, while visiting his sister in Miami Beach, Florida. He was born November 13, 1955, in Kilgore, Texas to Tommy and LaVern Preston. Danny spent his entire childhood and adolescence in Kilgore, attending Christ the King elementary, Heights elementary, Kilgore Jr. High and graduated from Kilgore High School in 1974. He attended Kilgore Jr. College and went to the University of Texas in Austin, graduating with a degree in accounting. He started his work career at Foley’s/Macy’s Department Stores, a division of The May Company, in Houston as an accounting analyst, and ended his employment as the Director of Operations in their Cosmetic division, when the headquarters was relocated from Houston to New York. He then transferred his skills to Stage Stores Houston headquarters in the same capacity until they closed their operations due to Covid in 2020.

Danny was known as a kind and loving person with an open heart and a sharp sense of humor. He volunteered to help process the bus loads of people relocating from New Orleans to Houston after Hurricane Katrina, spending countless hours helping them find housing and jobs. He loved animals of all kinds and was interned with his favorite cat, BC, whom he lost many years ago and still lovingly spoke of often. He loved to water ski and was exceptionally good at it. The box in which his ashes were buried was handmade by his cousin, Christi Bowden, from his favorite slalom ski. He also enjoyed his “antique” cars: a 1965 Mustang convertible and a 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass convertible, both of which he worked on refurbishing.

He was proceeded in death by his maternal grandparents Will and Ruby Babbit; his paternal grandparents W.B. and Irene Slade; Parents Tommy and LaVern Preston; and Aunt, Jo Hillyer, all of Kilgore. He is survived by his loving and devoted sister Candyce (Candy) Preston of Miami Beach, FL; cousins Joy and Mike Bowden of Kilgore, TX; and Christi Bowden of Austin, TX., close Houston friends, Keith Chapman, Mary Brower, John Lengyel, Paul Hager and Reyna Hernandez; his “rat pack” high school friends Suzzanne Haney, Lori Mathews, Joey Monk and Laura Schleier, as well as countless other friends, relatives and pets.