Delores Jean “Dee” (Yost) McDaniel, affectionately known as “D.J.” to some and simply “Dee” to most, was born on April 10, 1940, in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, to Dan and Marie (Pauley) Yost. She passed away on October 17, 2026, at the age of 86.
Dee was a devoted educator, a woman of steadfast faith, and a dedicated servant to her community. Those who knew her understood that she preferred to be called Dee; anyone who dared call her “Delores” risked receiving her legendary “teacher look” — a glance honed over 32 years in the classroom that could stop children and adults alike in their tracks.
Dee attended Victory Hill School from 1945 to 1956, completing kindergarten through tenth grade, before attending Scottsbluff High School from 1956 to 1958. She continued her education at Scottsbluff College (now Western Nebraska Community College) from 1958 to 1960, also attending summer courses at Chadron State College. She graduated from Chadron State College with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, with minors in Music, English, and Psychology.
On June 12, 1960, Dee married the love of her life, Paul Edward McDaniel, whom she affectionately called “Mac.” Their marriage was a cherished part of her life, and she always considered him her beloved husband and soulmate.
Education was both her profession and one of her lifelong passions. Over a remarkable 32-year teaching career in the Scottsbluff County area, including 28 years with Gering Public Schools, Dee taught students from kindergarten through sixth grade, as well as music education. Her dedication to her students and her profession extended beyond the classroom through her membership in the Christian Educators Association International and the Nebraska Association of the Gifted.
Though she was small in stature, Dee’s presence in the classroom was anything but. She often joked that when she taught sixth grade, she was “the littlest one in the room.” Yet she earned the respect and affection of generations of students. Even years after her retirement, former students would eagerly greet her with hugs whenever they encountered her in public, a testament to the lasting impression she made on the children she taught.
Dee’s Christian faith was central to her life and guided much of her service to others. During her years attending Emmanuel Congregational Church, she served on the Church Board and spent many years as Sunday School Superintendent. In 1973, she began her involvement with the Gideons International Women’s Auxiliary, an organization in which she took great pride. She served nine years on the Nebraska State Auxiliary Cabinet, including three years as State Auxiliary President.
From 1991 to 1996, Dee also served as a co-instructor for a Bible study held at the Scottsbluff County Jail, sharing her faith and her gift for teaching with those beyond the traditional classroom.
Following Mac’s passing, Dee eventually joined the local Widowed Persons’ Services Board, serving as Volunteer Coordinator and offering compassion and support to others navigating the loss of a spouse.
Retirement brought Dee one of her greatest joys: spending time with her grandchildren. Having helped raise all five of them, she devoted much of her retirement to creating memories and sharing countless “adventures” with the three youngest, Emily, Jennifer, and Anna. To her grandchildren, she was far more than a grandmother; she was a constant presence, a guiding hand, and a source of unconditional love.
Dee was also a lifelong Nebraska Cornhuskers fan, faithfully cheering on her beloved Huskers. Game days frequently found her in front of the television, enthusiastically rooting for her team with a spirited “GO HUSKERS!”
Dee never met a stranger. Whether she was visiting with an old friend, greeting a former student, or striking up a conversation with someone she’d only just met, she had a gift for making people feel welcome. Her warmth, humor, and genuine interest in others made her a beloved presence in her family and community.
Dee was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Paul Edward McDaniel; her daughter, Lorinda (McDaniel) Trout; her parents, Dan and Marie Yost; and her brother, John Yost.
She is survived by her son, Brent McDaniel, and his wife, Cathy; grandchildren Emily (McDaniel) Galindo and her husband, Ian, Anna McDaniel, Thomas Trout and his wife, Abigail, Laura (Trout) Exner and her husband, John, and Jennifer Trout; and great-granddaughters Ellis Galindo and Lydia Exner.
She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Louise Yost; nieces Amber (Yost) Epp and her husband, Russell, and their sons, Henning and Hudson; and Susan Yost and her children, Aubrey and Austin Bosche.
A funeral service celebrating Dee’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Westway Church in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Scottsbluff. Following the interment, family and friends are invited to return to Westway Church for a reception and time of fellowship.
Dee leaves behind a legacy of faith, education, service, and love that will continue through the countless lives she touched.
