By Johnny Trlica

A Celebration of Life Balloon Release was held at Tony’s Corner Pocket on Saturday, October 3, 2020. Friends of Dan Jacobson and Maury Mills gathered to share memories and a few drinks before releasing white balloons, many with personal messages written on them into a beautiful, blue Houston sky.

Dan “Daddy Dan” Jacobson

Dan Jacobson is fondly remembered for his warm, welcoming smile, his home-baked Christmas goodies, and the annual July 4th party he hosted at his home in the Heights. Dan had T-shirts for every occasion, many of which he made himself. They were always timely, topical, and frequently biting.

Daddy Dan, as he was known, contracted COVID-19 during the summer and passed away on July 13. He was born on August 8, 1955, and worked for many years at the 611 Hyde Park Pub. He was among the first bartenders at Eagle when it took over that address, and most recently poured libations at Tony’s Corner Pocket.

Dan’s good friend John Peterson said, “Dan was everyone’s friend and always saw the good in people. I loved his many different funny T-shirts. I remember the great 4th of July parties and the gift of Christmas cookies and fudge every year. He baked for weeks. When he started bartending in the mornings, I didn’t see him as often. I’m not a day drinker but we messaged each other to keep in touch. I will remember Dan as a special and kind person and will miss him. Prayers to his family for their loss.”

Maury Joel Mills

Maury Mills was a talented musician and loved the piano and loved to travel. He passed away on June 2, 2020, after incurring a stroke. He was raised on a small rural farm in Wayne, Oklahoma. He attended Okmulgee Technology School where he achieved a degree in drafting in 1971.

“Maury loved cars. From the time of his youth, Maury was a car guy. He loved to read about cars in any magazine he could get his hands on. He loved to attend car shows and go look at cars every Sunday on the car lot to dream about that next cool ride that he would have in his driveway. He would never pass on an opportunity to take you for a ride in whatever vehicle he had at the time to show how it could go very fast and, depending on if the vehicle was convertible, hopefully, you were prepared to be cruising with the top down,” reads his obituary.

Mills had a very successful career as vice president of sales, director of marketing, and president for various leading valve manufacturers.

Survivors include a brother, sister, four children, twelve grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and countless friends.