Daniel Michael Drury

Daniel M. Drury, affectionately known as “GranDan” passed into the arms of the Lord on March 6, 2022.  Born in Indiana in 1947 to Paul Richard and Luelda Jane Drury, he moved to Texas with his family at the age of 3, where he had dreams of being a cowboy.  Dan spent most of his boyhood years in Blanco, Texas, and attended the University of Texas at Austin where he earned a degree in Electrical Engineering.  He worked for General Electric and Eaton Corporation as a sales engineer from 1979 until retirement.  He leaves many friends in the electrical business in the Little Rock area.

Dan came to Arkansas in 1978 for employment where he met his future wife, Donna.  The two married in 1981 and were devoted to each other. They lived, worked, and raised their family in the North Little Rock/Sherwood area until a recent move to Northwest Arkansas.

Dan was an avid golfer and football fan, who loved both the Texas Longhorns and his adopted Arkansas Razorbacks.  He had an adventurous spirit and enjoyed traveling with Donna, whether it was a trip overseas, sightseeing in America, or a musical adventure. In the 90’s, they discovered French Louisiana music in Lafayette and made many enjoyable trips to the Lafayette area to dance and enjoy the music and culture.

Dan was a person who loved deeply and unconditionally.  He gave others the benefit of the doubt and forgave easily; he was a possibility thinker and an eternal optimist.  He could talk to anyone in any station of life, make them feel valued, and put them at ease or make them laugh.  He loved life and continued to live life fully even after getting a diagnosis of multiple myeloma several years ago. He was a favorite of the doctors and nurses at UAMS in Little Rock because of his cheery attitude and sense of humor.

He loved his church, North Little Rock First United Methodist and the North Little Rock area, but he loved his family most of all.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Jane, and by his brother, John Drury.  He is survived by a sister, Pat Drury, sister-in-law Debi Drury, and brother Stephen Drury and wife Kathleen, all of Texas.  Dan leaves behind his wife, Donna, and deeply loved children and their spouses: Wendi and Ryan McClendon of Coppell, Texas, Beverly and Barry Ewy of Jenks, Oklahoma, and Scott and Ashley Sides of Bentonville.  His grandchildren whom he adored and who adored him, as well, are Caroline and Blake Ewy, Isaac and Kennedy Sides, and Lillian McClendon.  He leaves behind a host of other family and friends who loved him dearly.

The family expresses heartfelt gratitude to the Winthrop Rockefeller Cancer Center at UAMS in Little Rock and especially to Dr. Frits van Rhee, the APNS and staff for his Dan’s care during his myeloma journey and to the 4 ^th Floor doctors, nurses, and staff for the exceptional care and kindness received at Mercy Hospital in Rogers.

Lasting memorials can be made to the UAMS Myeloma Center in Little Rock, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, NLR First United Methodist Church, and Blessings International.

Emerson Funeral Home will be hosting a visitation on Sunday, March 20, from 6-7 pm.  The Celebration of Life service will be at Emerson at 10 am on Monday, March 21 ^st , with burial to follow at Pleasant Grove Cemetery.