Louis Daniel “Danny” Rao, Jr. passed into His Savior’s arms May 26, 2023, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
He was the second child of Louis Daniel “Dan” Rao, Sr. and Gloria Mae Barras Rao. He was born April 24, 1953, in New Iberia, Louisiana.
Danny was a special brother from birth. He was a gentle, generous and forgiving soul who made friends wherever he went. If anyone needed to remember something from days past, Danny was the one who had all the memories and names stored away.
He spent his early years in Special Education classes in Louisiana and Texas, graduating from W.B. Ray High School in 1971.
Danny held many jobs in his adulthood ranging from landscaping to dishwashing.
He loved cars, both real and Matchbox. As a child, he would lay on the floor and play quietly for hours with his cars and toys.
In his later years, he was active with MHMR and Mosaic dayhabs, participating in bowling, field trips and daily lessons.
His favorite activity, besides bowling, was the annual trip to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
After retirement, Danny was a collector of movies and shows, being a big fan of oldies like “The Andy Griffith Show,” The Three Stooges and “Petticoat Junction.”
Danny was preceded in death by his grandparents, Laura and John Silhavy, Ned and Lillie Mae Rao, Eunice and Coonie Domingue; his mother, Gloria Mae Barras Rao; brother-in-law, Leslie “Zak” Yezak; his nephews, Jake Sandlin and Gary Pendleton; and greatnephews, Michael Franks and Zak Michael Webb.
He is survived by his father, Louis Daniel Rao, Sr.; siblings, Laura (Frank) Thompson, Dale (Jeanelle) Rao, Roxanne Franks, and Dana Yezak; as well as nieces, nephews, great-nieces, greatnephews, a great-greatniece, and many friends.
Danny will be remembered at a family gathering later in the year. There will be no formal services.
The family is grateful to the love and care given to Danny by staffs at Legacy Nursing and Rehabilitation and Hospice Brazos Valley. Donations in his name can be made to Hospice Brazos Valley.
Express condolences at Phillipsandluckey.com.
PHILLIPS & LUCKEY FUNERAL HOME 404 W. Buck St. Caldwell, Tx 77836 979-567-3232