Daniele Lamarre Alford

Daniele Lamarre Alford, age 89, went to be with the Lord on September 19th, 2023. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, September 22, 2023, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Kilgore. Burial will follow at Overton Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Rader Funeral Home on Thursday evening from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. She was born August 2nd, 1934, in Saigon, Vietnam, an Indo-China French Territory at the time, where her father was stationed and honorably served as a Captain in the French Navy.

She grew up in Paris, France, during the Nazi occupation, and often regaled stories of those trying and difficult times. In early 1957, as a young adult, she befriended an American exchange student at the University of Paris. Shortly thereafter, Daniele courageously boarded the French ship, ‘Ille de France’, at just 23 years of age, beginning her American adventure. After arriving in the U.S., she made her way to West Texas, where she met Walter Eugene Alford, of Overton, TX, on a blind date with friends. They married on September 14th, 1963, in Lubbock, TX. They had one daughter, Chantal, and in 1970 moved their small family to the shores of Lake Cherokee. In 1977, they moved to Kilgore, TX where they opened the record and tape store, “Danni's Music World”, a place where many of the townsfolk would spend their Saturday mornings, until a big box store forced its closure in 1986. Mrs. Alford continued working as a manager of the video store at the same location for many more years. During her retirement, Mrs. Alford was a member of the Kilgore Garden Club, Daughters of the King, and served as a Docent for the Kilgore College Oil Museum. She was a long-standing member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Kilgore.

Of all her adventures, Daniele would tell you her greatest joy was helping raise her grandchildren, where she became the daycare pick-up, after-school pick-up, and joyful cheerleader at all their volleyball and soccer games. She so enjoyed all their activities. It was during these happy years she became “Memee” to many of Kilgore’s youth.

She is survived by her sister, Marie-Helene Lacoste and husband Daniel of Begles, France, with several nieces and nephews throughout France. Her Daughter, Chantal Alford Braly and husband Patrick, of Longview. Grandchildren, Destiny Davidson and Andy, of Longview; China Hughes and Jed Herrin, of Kilgore; Sebastian Hughes, of Longview. She also leaves behind great-grandchildren Christian, Asia, Ally, Braden, Jada, Jess, Bliss, and Kai, though she is loved by many more.

She is predeceased by her loving husband, Walter Eugene "Gene” Alford, sister Yvonne Bocquet, mother Yvonne Poudrat, and father Rene Lamarre.

Daniele “Memee”, was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She always prioritized the needs and care of others above her own. She leaves behind a lasting impact on those she loved and knew. Her selflessness and grace will be dearly missed. May she rest in eternal peace.

A special thank you to long-time friend Brandy Hughes and the nurses at Good Shepherd Medical Center, especially Victoria.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude's Children’s Hospital, or St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Kilgore.