Carol Zee Daniel

Carol Zee Daniel, age 71, died peacefully in her home in Gainesville, Georgia, on the evening of May 26th, 2021. She was surrounded and comforted by those she loved and held tight to her son's hand as she ventured off to that undiscovered country. She is survived by her loving husband of 47 years, Clint, and her son, Robert.

Carol was born December 14th, 1949, to Jerome Arthur Zee (Zieziulewicz) and Ernestine Egan in St. Petersburg, Florida. Growing up in a house full of women, she was one of five sisters; Roberta, Judy, Diane, and Helena. These sisters held a tight bond growing up, often caring for themselves and cooking for one another.

She attended Boca Ciega High School, where she graduated, in three years, not the usual four. At one point, Carol decided that she heard the calling and was going to become a nun. Her Father, wanting her to rethink that life path, pleaded for her to try college for a year. She consented and headed off to Sacred Heart University in Alabama. Finding college life much more appealing, she decided that the convent life was not for her but also headed to Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia. Carol was a proud Chi Omega sorority sister and would always look back on that time with many fond memories and hilarious stories of hijinx and shenanigans.

She graduated with a degree in education and began teaching elementary school in the Atlanta area at Jolly Elementary. Miss Zee put her all into her students, and they meant the world to her; she both encouraged them and pushed them so that they would expand their curious minds and be ready for life ahead. 

During her time teaching, she wanted to pursue her Masters in Education and chose to do so at Georgia State University. If working full time and taking night classes didn't seem enough, she decided to also work part-time at Epps Air Service to put herself through flight school and get her private pilot’s license. It was a simple act that would bring her closer to her father, a notable RCAF and USAAF bomber pilot in World War II. She didn't know at the time that among those clouds was the love of her life.

She met Clint one sunny day at Peachtree Dekalb Airport, as he was also a flyer, and there was an opportunity to help escort his plane over to Alabama. Indeed, it was love at first sight, a moment that blossomed into a long and loving relationship that spanned 47 years of marriage.

The happy couple had their only son, Robert, and Carol decided to focus all of her attention on becoming a full-time parent and homemaker. She poured all of her wisdom and love into that relationship, and he is a better man for it. Indeed the measure of a good person is the mark that they leave on the people around them. Carol's influence on Robert is displayed from comments of his closest friends, who note that his generosity, hospitality, and sense of caring are emblematic of Carol.  Carol and Clint built two happy homes during their life together, with Carol mapping out much of the interior of both, even without an architecture degree. Her personal touch was always there, be it in building a house, the countless holiday parties, Summer Bible Camp, or even the Dig & Sprig Garden Club event she hosted.

A priest once asked if you could describe Carol with one word, what would that be. Many words come to mind for her many life adventures: Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother, Friend, Teacher, Pilot, Sorority Sister, Entrepreneur; however, the most significant word that may describe her is Giving. She was always there to share her love, laughter, knowledge, and wisdom, and, greatest of all, time. Her friends will tell you how gracious of a host she was or always there to support them with everything she had. She was the brightest diamond that would absolutely make the room sparkle wherever she was. This is truly the mark of a life well-lived, and she will be remembered eternal in the hearts and minds of those that she touched.

A celebration of life will be held at Memorial Park Funeral Home (2030 Memorial Park Dr, Gainesville, GA 30504) on Saturday, June 5th. The viewing will be from 11 AM to 1 PM, with the service starting promptly at 1 PM. The interment will follow shortly at Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs. The family will be hosting a BBQ at the house to celebrate Carol's life and reminisce with stories and the many ways she touched our lives.

In place of flowers, donations may be made to support Alzheimer's disease research at the Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at Emory via this link: https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1705/02-health-sciences/interior-hybrid.aspx?sid=1705&gid=2&pgid=1480&cid=2658&bledit=1&dids=6723&appealcode=UHMA7

Please reference "in memory of Carol Zee Daniel." Donations can also be made over the phone by contacting Courtney Harris at 404.727.5282, or checks can be made out to Emory University at 1762 Clifton Rd NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30322.

Memorial Park Funeral Home, 2030 Memorial Park Road, Gainesville, GA  30504 is in charge of arrangements.

Send online condolences to www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com.