September 18, 1949 ~ October 12, 2025 (age 76)
Daniel Reed Biser, 76, a native son of Texas who followed his heart home to North Carolina, passed away peacefully Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025.
Dan, known affectionately as Danny growing up, was born Sept. 18, 1949, in Beaumont, Texas, to Helen and Roy Hamilton Biser Jr. He was predeceased by, in addition to his parents, a brother, Roy Osborne Biser; and his father-in-law, Joe Blake Barefoot.
Learning to ride horses with brothers Robbie and Jack, family travel and camping, and playing with his large collection of first cousins were among his favorite childhood memories.
A sports enthusiast from the beginning, as a student-athlete, he fully embraced the latter. Other than a fondness for his German teacher, his core memories of high school revolved around playing football, basketball, baseball, and running track for the Southpark High Greenies before graduating with the class of 1968.
Dan graduated from the University of North Texas with a degree in journalism in 1972. In 1974, while working as a horse wrangler at Circle F Camp in Florida, he met the love of his life, Jo Anne Barefoot of Hallsboro. The two married in 1976 and spent the next nearly 50 years creating joyful memories with their three children, Blake, Blair and Jennie Marie.
Dan worked for The News Reporter for 47 years before his retirement in 2021, serving as sports editor and covering Columbus County athletics. He attended and documented an untold number of games across southeastern North Carolina – highlighting the rich athletic traditions of the region from Dixie Youth to the Special Olympics, cross-county rivalries, state championship teams, and remarkable athletes from the pee-wees to the pros. He had a knack for remembering over four decades of players, coaches and stats of games. Dan’s sharp memory allowed him to recall not just the winners of match-ups from seasons past, but the scores and plays that made it all happen, as if he had never left the sidelines or the press box. The games, the stories, and the people from Dan’s sports writing career were among his last memories to fade, earning him the beloved title of “Coach Dan” from his own team of caregivers.
Dan maintained his athleticism as time passed by power walking and annually “Taking the Lake,” most memorably with his entire family for his 65th birthday.
A lifelong United Methodist, Dan developed sacred memories of worshipping in congregations of First United Methodist Beaumont, Hallsboro United Methodist and Whiteville United Methodist.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on October 25, 2025 at 1:00 pm at Whiteville United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends in the Fellowship Hall following the service. There will be a private committal service held later. McKenzie Mortuary of Whiteville is serving the family.
Surviving Dan to cherish his memories are his wife, JoAnne Biser; son, Blair Biser; daughters, Blake (Tim) Brookshire, Jennie Marie (Kurt) Bryan; an honorary daughter, Jen Johnstone; grandchildren, Adam, Ella, Marie, Chloe and Sydney; brother, John Arthur Biser (Lisa); sister-in-law. Merri Gay Biser; brother-in-law, Art Barefoot; and mother-in-law, Mrs. Anne Barefoot; along with many special cousins, nieces and nephews.
The family of Dan is especially grateful to the dedicated care provided to him by Dannie Dudley, Betty Jo Barnhill, Kathy Graham, Pauline Smith and Arthur Graham, as well as to the devoted staff of Coastal Pointe Memory Care in Shallotte.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a youth sports organization or high school athletic booster club of your choice or to the Dementia Alliance of North Carolina’s Music and Memory at Home program, 9131 Anson Way, Suite 206, Raleigh, N.C. 27615.
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