James Howard McDaniel, 86, of the Higdon community passed away Friday, September 27, 2013 at Copper Basin Medical Center. Howard was the son of the late William M. McDaniel and Estie Pope McDaniel. He was a loving father and grandfather. Howard enjoyed hunting and fishing and taught many men in the community how to do so. He spent much of his time enjoying life, nature and animals. His true passion was for bee keeping and farming. He was happy to see his last crop harvested. He was known by many as one of the true mountain men of Fannin County. He was a former employee of the Fannin County Road Department and a World War II Army veteran. He also spent time working as a shrimper in Florida, a fur trapper and selling his home grown vegetables.He was preceeded in death by his wife, Ruby Dyer McDaniel; brothers, Johnny, Bud and George McDaniel; sisters, Ruby Thomas, Helen Walden, Hazel Dillard and Thelma Nichols.He is survived by his daughters and son-in-law, Kathy and Kevin Nicholson of Blue Ridge and Patti Bailey of Epworth; grandchildren Jessica Eads of Morganton, Nicole Nicholson of Blue Ridge, Sarah and Randy Watkins of Pageland, S.C., and Hannah and Jarrett Miller of Cumming, Ga.; great-grandchildren McKenzie Fisher, Caden and Noah Watkins and Isabella Eads; sisters and brother-in-law, Willa Nell Jones of Blue Ridge and Ruth Mae and Leroy Hawkins of Blue Ridge. Many nieces and nephews also survive.Funeral services were held Monday, Sept. 30, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. from the Akins of Blue Ridge Chapel with the Rev. Delmar Davenport, the Rev. Daniel Postell and The Rev. Steve O'Neal officiating. Pallbearers included Tommy Payne, Tommy Millsaps, Anthony Walden, Darrell Walden, Tim Walden, Joseph Walden, Wesley Chastain, Steve O'Neal. Honorary pallbearers include Lucas Walden, Bennie Ritchie, Oliver Walden, John Chastain, Morris Callihan, Thomas Graham, Mitchell Patterson, Danny Patterson and Robert McDaniel. Interment followed in the Hipps Chapel Church cemetery. Military honors were by the North Georgia Honor Guard. Condolences may by sent to the family at www.akinsfuneralhome.com. Akins Funeral Home of Blue Ridge was in charge of the arrangements. .