Grace Elizabeth Dailey, 86, of Huntsville, Alabama, passed away on April 12, 2022. Grace was born on June 12, 1935, in Lexington, Massachusetts, to Elias and Ethel Bears. Grace grew up in the Lexington community before attending Colby College in Waterville, Maine. Following graduation from Colby, Grace earned her Master’s Degree in Education with a focus on teaching English at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1962, Grace married Carroll C Dailey of Montgomery, Alabama, and they immediately started raising a family. The young family moved to Huntsville in 1966 where they established their permanent home.
Grace taught college English at the University of Alabama in Huntsville for several years before taking a teaching position in the newly established Gifted and Talented program in Huntsville City Schools. After serving as one of the first Gifted and Talented teachers in the program, Grace was promoted to Director of the program where she faithfully served scores of children and their parents during her career. Teaching and advocating for students of all ages were among Grace’s strongest callings and passions.
Grace was a very active member of Covenant Presbyterian Church, serving as a deacon, elder, adult Sunday School teacher, and Stephen Minister. Grace played an important role in the growth of the church during the early years and was a servant and counselor to many of its members. Grace had an extremely strong faith and held a deep love for the people of Covenant. Grace’s third passion was the Botanical Garden in Huntsville where she played a role in the early formation of the garden. Upon retirement from the school system, Grace volunteered as a docent at the Botanical Garden leading tours for out-of-town guests and school field trips. She loved telling people about the history of the garden and all the different types of plants that it features. Her favorite role at the Garden was serving as Mother Goose for groups of young school children. She would dress in her costume, assume the persona of Mother Goose, and read the nursery rhymes to groups of delighted children. Grace lived an exceptional life filled by nurturing hundreds of children, practicing faith with her church family, sharing the wonders of nature at the Botanical Garden, serving as a volunteer for numerous community organizations, and traveling throughout the country and abroad.
Grace is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 59 years, Carroll C Dailey; son, Paul Dailey and his wife, Darlene; daughter, Susan Nyhus and her husband, Michael Nyhus; son, David Dailey and his wife, Marlee; grandchildren, Julia Dailey, Anna Dailey Crim and her husband, Charlie Crim, Will Dailey, Alex Dailey, and Matt Dailey.
A memorial service for Grace will be held at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 301 Drake Ave SE, on Saturday, April 23 at 1:00 p.m. She will be laid to rest in Maple Hill Cemetery in Huntsville.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Huntsville Botanical Garden or Covenant Presbyterian Church in Grace’s honor.
