Dorothy Carter Dailey

Published 12:00 am Friday, June 26, 2009

Dorothy Faye Carter Dailey passed away in the early morning hours of June 22, 2009, in Clanton, Ala., at the home of her daughter, Faye Swanner, four days after her 89th birthday.
Dot, who we all affectionately called “Di-Dot,” was the daughter of Oscar Marvin Carter and Pearlie
Elizabeth Nummy, and was born June 18, 1920, in Clanton. She was the fifth of seven children, having four older brothers, Curtis, Lester, Grady and Cecil Carter; and two younger sisters, Grace and Pearl (Tootie). She married Ervin Delmo Dailey, of Camden, at the First United Methodist Church Parsonage in Clanton, on Dec. 13, 1938. He preceded her in death Aug. 4, 2006.
She is survived by sister, Grace Mae Carter (Frank) Prestwood, of Valparaiso, Fla.; three children, Marvin Ervin Dailey (Cecilia Ann), of Chickasaw, Ala.; Sarah Faye Dailey (Thomas) Swanner, of Clanton, and Dorothy Anne Dailey (Henry) Collier, of Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.; seven grandchildren, Thomas Gregory Swanner of Elmore, Ala.; Mary Elizabeth Swanner (Bo) Mims, of Clanton, Anne Marie Collier (Bobby) McBride, of Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.; Allison Elizabeth Collier (Danny) Vinson, of Raleigh, NC; Amanda Faye Collier (Jarod) Leddy, of Pace, Fla.; Marvin Lloyd (Sandy) Dailey of Chumuckla, Fla.; and Robert Carter (Liz) Dailey of Atlanta; and 12 great-grandchildren, Sarah Elizabeth Swanner, Thomas Tate Kirkpatrick Swanner, Victoria Grace Byrne, Emily Rose Mims, Matthew Dailey, Jacob Dailey, Carolyn May Dailey, Kathryn Elizabeth McBride, Collier Michael McBride, Abigail Rae Vinson, Alysa Anne Vinson and Madison Leddy.
Dot was lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church and member of the Carlisle Miller Sunday School class. She was a member of the Clanton Garden Club and the Home Demonstration Club. Dot graduated from the old Chilton County High School in 1939. Being a member of the Beta Club, she expected her children to excel in learning as well. She and Dailey saved their monies to buy a set of encyclopedias and a set of Childcraft books for their children. Their desire was for all their children to receive further education beyond high school, all of which attended college. This meant a great sacrifice for the opportunity to learn. Dot and Dailey loved the old Dailey family land in Camden. They had a manufactured home in Camden for their second home for many years. You could always find Dot at the trailer preparing meals for anyone that would happen to be down there or sitting on the front porch in the swing while Dailey would be out doing something, from riding the 4-wheeler to putting up deer stands. They lived their lives with one monetary philosophy — they paid cash for what they bought. She and Ervin had a garden every year until his death, and she could be found in the kitchen every summer, practically all summer, canning whatever the garden produced. She would also make the best jams and jellies you would ever eat.
Dot and Ervin went on their first volunteer mission trip to Costa Rica, sponsored by the Alabama-West Florida Conference. They worked on a church in Golfito. At another time they served in Mexico. One of the greatest actions she took was to set up a Carter Scholarship fund to aid students going to college. She had a special love for others and was a vocal activist for those who needed help and taught this to her children.
Harold Krusner wrote a book called “A Life that Really Matters.” He said older adults ask that question toward the end of life. Dot Dailey lived a life that mattered and made changes in her world.
Visitation will be Sunday from 1-2 p.m., in the First United Methodist Church sanctuary, followed by the funeral at 2 p.m. Graveside will be at the Martin Memorial Cemetery in Clanton immediately following the services.
The Dailey family wants to express gratitude and appreciation for the loving care provided by the staff and volunteers of Alacare Hospice. A special thanks to Sue Cox, Sandra Williams and Jodie Walters for their loving care.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church for a covered walkway for the handicap entrance.