Nancy Daniel McCarthy

Nancy Lane Daniel McCarthy passed away peacefully at the age of 93 on April 10, 2024, at Vicar’s Landing in Ponte Vedra Beach with her family at her side.  She was born on October 30, 1930, in Miami, Florida, and spent her early years in Miami with her mother and father, Julian and Ophelia Daniel, and her brother Julian Daniel.  Nancy graduated from Miami Edison High where she was a member of the Edison Cadettes.   She then attended Florida State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1951. She later received a Masters of Education degree.

 Nancy met John McCarthy, a WWII Navy Vet from Pennsylvania, while teaching at a local Miami school. They married on January 3, 1953, and settled in Miami. John and Nancy thrived in marriage for 65 years until his death in 2018.   Nancy leaves behind their four children: Rebecca Lane (David) Andrews of Cary, NC; Julian Daniel (Cindy) McCarthy from Tallahassee; John Patrick (Toni-Jean) McCarthy from Ponte Vedra Beach; and Kathleen (John) Furness from Ponte Vedra Beach. 

  Nancy had a very successful teaching career at Miami Springs High School, where she was the Head of the Science Department, and taught Biology, and Anatomy and Physiology, for 25 years.  Nancy earned many teaching honors and awards at Miami Springs High School and was an inspirational mentor to thousands of students. She had a deep and abiding love for education, nature, gardening, music, sports, and her Christian faith.  Nancy attended Central Baptist Church and Miami Springs Presbyterian Church when living in Miami.

 When the Navy ordered one son to Jacksonville, Nancy, and John, then both retired, moved from Miami to Ponte Vedra Beach in 1996. This caused other family members to move to Ponte Vedra Beach and their family became “centered” there. Nancy and John were active members at Palms Presbyterian Church, where Nancy taught an adult Sunday school class for more than a decade. In 2015 John and Nancy moved into Vicar’s Landing and were deeply appreciative of the great care and fine people they met there.

 Nancy’s life was all about her family.  Known affectionately as “Memom”, she spent every day nurturing and supporting that family. Nancy traveled the globe to visit with, and assist her children, and then focused on creating fun and adventure for her 13 grandkids, taking them on countless motorhome trips around the country. In her senior years she delighted in her 13 great-grandchildren. Nancy was the “Matriarch” of her family in every sense of the word, and mentored all family members with her vast interests, talents, and great love.  Nancy was an eternal optimist, who lived every day with a smile, a song in her heart, and kindness and respect toward all.  She was also a master cake decorator and baker, and her creations were the highlight of every family gathering.

 A private family celebration of her life and interment will be held at Palms Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be in memory of Nancy Daniel McCarthy to: Vicars Landing Members Trust, Employee Scholarship Fund, 1000 Vicars Landing Way, Ponte Vedra, FL 32082.