Douglas Daniels Jr.

October 19, 1983 - July 24, 2021

Douglas Anthony Daniels, Jr. was born on October 19, 1983, to Kristal Gatison and Douglas Daniels, Sr. in New Haven, Connecticut. Douglas, affectionately known as Dougie, was educated in the New Haven and Hamden Public School systems graduating from Hyde Leadership School. Dougie started playing little league baseball and football at the age of five. He was an outstanding athlete and enjoyed playing basketball for New Haven and Hamden Public Schools. Throughout his life, he met an abundance of friends and was well-liked by everyone. Dougie was loving, generous, fair, and saw the good in people. He enjoyed spending quality time with his family and friends, PlayStation gaming, riding his motorcycle, listening to music, and enjoying a homecooked meal. Dougie has worked at Restaurant Depot in Orange, CT, and acquired an extensive network of colleagues he was proud to call friends through his employment at the Veterans Affairs Hospital as an Environmental Management Specialist. Dougie possessed strong leadership qualities. He took pride in being on time - every day, and establishing a good rapport was essential to him. On May 20, 2021, Dougie was presented the Employee of the Month Award, and he was set to receive another recognition in July. Working to provide for his family and educating his children were important to him. He believed in hands-on experience, demonstrated by assisting his children this past school year with remote learning and teaching them good work ethics by allowing them to accompany him while DoorDashing before his scheduled shift. Dougie loved his family and imparted important lessons to carry them through life. Left to cherish his memories is his loving wife, SkyLa’Maree C. Daniels, whom he met in kindergarten in 1988. In June 2015, he made his best friend his wife, and to this union, two daughters were born, Dreux A. and Draya A. Daniels. They will hold him in their hearts along with their siblings, Aryana, Mi’Lon, and Jayden. He also leaves to cherish his sons, Douglas A. Daniels III and Dejon A. Daniels; his siblings, Jessica, James Jr. (Khadijah), Joshua, Melissa, Mylene (Kayshawn), Sage, Honesty, Eric, Annetta, Eveonna, and Gary; his goddaughter Anylah Star Reese; his stepfather James Gatison Sr.; his maternal grandparents, Mary Demand and Caesar Morris; his paternal grandmother, Carolyn Daniels; his mother and father-in-law, Robert and Felecia Jones, and his loving aunts, uncles, nieces, nephew, cousins, extended family and a host of friends. He was predeceased by his grandfather Cleven Daniels and stepgrandfather Lucious Gatison.