Daniel Lee Carroll, Jr

  "To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." Ralph Waldo Emerson thought this to be true, and it was certainly true of my dad, Danny.

 

  As we all know, my father had his flaws and vices, just as we all do in one way or another. He and my mother separated when I was too young to remember, but we always maintained contact and always shared a bond.

 

  Throughout my childhood, I always idolized him, regardless of how much time we were able to spend together. In my eyes, he could do no wrong. I cherish those memories deeply—whether it was just the two of us or time spent with my late grandmother, Frances. We didn't have the textbook father-son relationship, but I never held any resentment toward him. I loved him unconditionally and always carried him with me, even during the times he wasn't physically present.

 

  In the five or six years leading up to his passing, we grew closer than we had been in a very long time. We spoke more often, and he made frequent trips to visit me and my family. The way his eyes would light up whenever he saw my children brought me a sense of joy and comfort that I never fully put into words. It was impossible not to see how deeply he loved me, my wife, Megan, and our children, Liana and Colton. Watching him embrace his role as a grandfather was a gift I will forever be grateful for.

 

  When someone you love passes unexpectedly, it's natural to dwell on the things left unsaid and the moments you wish you could have shared. Those thoughts have a way of finding their place in your mind. But amid the sadness, I find comfort in knowing how fortunate we were to have the time we did. I'm grateful for the conversations we shared, the memories we made, and the opportunity to strengthen our bond during the later years of his life. Those are gifts that can never be taken away.

 

  I also find peace in knowing that he is finally reunited with those he loved and lost before him—his mother, my grandmother, Frances McGowan-Carroll; his sister, Debbie Waby; and his brother, David Carroll. Each of them was taken from us far too soon, and I take solace in imagining them together once again.

 

  Dad, your memory and legacy will live on through me, your grandchildren, your father, and every person fortunate enough to know you. You had a way of bringing light to even the darkest situations. Your smile, your laugh, and your unmistakable presence could brighten any room. While our hearts are heavy with your absence, we are better for having known you, loved you, and been loved by you. You will be missed more than words can ever express, and loved far longer than time will allow us to remember.

  

 

                            Forever In Our Hearts,

                             Daniel Lee Carroll Jr

                          9/14/1965 - 6/12/2026

                          Love you, Pops, always!