The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Santa Dan Harriman, 63, of Orange, passed away Oct. 26, at Harbor Hospice House in Beaumont.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 am, Thursday, Oct. 30, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Orange. Officiating will be Father Tom Phelan. Entombment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Orange.

Visitation will be from 5:00-8:00 pm, with a Rosary recited at 7:00 pm, Wednesday, Oct. 29, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.

Born in Rochester, Mi., Jan. 5, 1951, he was the son of John Willard Harriman and Helen (Bellairs) Harriman.

Santa Dan was a founding member of the Lonestar Santa’s of Texas and was very involved in the community.

Most recently he worked as an instructor for Lamar University teaching auto mechanics, he also taught at UTI in Houston and at Tyler Junior College.

He was a member of many clubs and organizations such as; the Ham Radio Club of Orange, KC5GXL was his call sign, the South East Texas Astronomy Club, Orange Amateur Radio Club, a fly fishing club, and a train club.

He was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Santa Dan was a woodworker, who favored making children’s furniture.

He enjoyed organic gardening and traveling with his wife, they have traveled many places together.

Santa Dan will be greatly missed by many throughout the community.

He is preceded in death by his father, John Willard Harriman, and two brothers, Roger Harriman and John Harriman, Jr.

He is survived by his wife, Frances Clause Harriman; mother, Helen (Bellairs) Harriman; children, Dawn Kilgore and husband, Gary of Houston, Daniel Harriman, Jr. and wife, Elizabeth of Orange, Michael Harriman of Houston, Kristine Lause of Findlay, Oh., Kerri Lause Saulmon and husband, Michael of San Antonio; and his fur baby, Jake.

He is also survived by his grandchildren, Tiffany Kirk, Keliann, Kyle, Kenzi and Kevin Beall, Leo and Ozzie Saulmon, Jordan, Kara and Cole Kilgore, Cozie Gardner, Caden Harriman and Gracy Wehunt; great-grandchild, Piper; siblings Duane Harriman and wife, Sharon, Alan Harriman and wife, Dawn, Sherilyn Knickerbocker and husband, Jeff, and Rita Kelp and husband, Dennis.

Serving as pallbearers will be Daniel Harriman, Jr., Michael Harriman, Michael Saulmon, Kyle Beall, Stephen Smith, and Steve Broussard. Honorary pallbearers are Kevin Beall, Leo Saulmon and Ozzie Saulmon.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the OCARC, 905 West Park, Orange, TX 77630.

The family of Santa Dan would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Southeast Texas Hospice and Harbor Hospice for all of their care and love during this difficult time.