LAVERL REEVES DAILY

1927-2017

LaVerl Daily passed on November 4, 2017. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, friend and mentor.

LaVerl was a native Texan, born and raised in Wichita Falls. She came to Houston after her graduation and worked for Howard Hughes in his Houston office as well as other very interesting positions. She married Dr. Louis Daily in 1958 and they had two children, Collin Derek Daily and Evan Ray Daily. LaVerl began a lifelong fascination with cooking, flower arranging and had a unique talent for making the world a more beautiful place. She opened and ran LaPanier Cooking School for many years and many will remember taking classes there and hearing LaVerl tell stories while teaching about Julia Childs and other illustrious chefs, of which she was indeed one.

In 1960, on a trip to Japan, she encountered the beauty of Ikebana and upon returning to the US worked tirelessly in teaching and demonstrating the art of flower arranging, with four decades of involvement with the Houston chapter of Ikebana International and five terms as President. She was also an active member of the Japan America Society of Houston for many years, through which she helped coordinate the popular Houston Japan Festival since 1994, where her beautiful arrangements had been on display every year. LaVerl opened the Tachebana School of Ikebana in and continued to be active in the Ikebana community.

One of LaVerl’s dreams was realized in the creation of the Japanese Gardens and Tea House in Hermann Park where a tree is being planted in her memory

LaVerl received many awards for her service and dedication, including a commendation from Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs in 2004. She was named Houston’s Woman of the Year in 1980 and Mayor Bill White proclaimed her birthday as ‘LaVerl Daily Day” in her honor.

She was conferred the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays, which was established by the Meiji emperor in 1875 and was the first such to be created by the Japanese government. LaVerl was one of just over 48 non-Japanese recipients.

She is preceded in death by her mother Corintha Reeves Mowery, her father Byron Reeves, her sister Myra Nichols, and her beloved son, Collin Derek Daily. Her beloved husband of 60 years, Dr. Louis Daily, Jr. passed on March 4, 2018, four months to the day after her passing. She is survived by her son, Evan Daily, Tina Daily, her grandchildren, Dakotah Daily and Isabeau Daily.

LaVerl brought beauty to everything she touched and will be greatly missed by all.

A memorial service will be held for both Dr. and Mrs. Louis Daily Friday, April 20, 2018 at 10:00 in the morning at the Cherie Flores Garden Pavilion at the McGovern Centennial Gardens located at 1500 Hermann Drive in Houston, Texas.