Michael "Mike" Thomas Daly

Michael T Daly of Rock Hill, SC passed away at home on Thursday, July 15, 2021 after an illness of several years.  He will be remembered for his love of family, compassion and empathy for others, great sense of humor, constant faith and optimism, and the courageous way he faced his complex medical challenges.  He showed us how to live and finally, how to move to the next life in Heaven with dignity and grace. 

A Catholic funeral Mass and Celebration of Life is scheduled for family and friends on Monday, July 26th at 11 am at St. Anne Church.  Rev. Timothy Daly, Mike’s cousin, will officiate.   In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made instead to Camp Care, a NC camp for children with cancer, especially important to Mike, as he himself suffered through childhood cancer.  Donations in Mike’s name may be made at https://charity.gofundme.com/donate/charity/campcare

Born in Washington, DC, he lived in Arlington, VA until he was six years old, and still has many relatives in that area.  At that time he moved with his family to St. Petersburg, FL , attended St. Jude’s Catholic Church School and was graduated from Bishop Barry High School in 1966.  He also attended classes at St. Petersburg Junior College.

Mike was a store manager for Food Lion in several cities in North Carolina, Virginia, and in Ocean City MD.  Prior to that he worked as Produce Manager for Publix in St. Petersburg, FL; and Assistant Produce Manager for Winn-Dixie in Kenneth City, FL as a very young man. 

Mike was a member of St. Anne Catholic Church in Rock Hill, SC.  Following in his father’s footsteps, he joined the Squires at 15, followed by membership in the Knights of Columbus in St. Petersburg, FL.   He was proud of his K of C affiliation and reaching the status of 4th Degree Knight while in his early 20s.  He was a member of St. Anne - Oratory Council 6756 in Rock Hill, SC; and a member of the Father Henry Tevlin Assembly #2108 Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree, where he held several different offices including that of Faithful Comptroller in 2012. 

He was also passionate about those things he learned to love as a child in St. Petersburg, FL.  He loved sailing, water skiing, and boating in general.  He joined the New River Sail and Power Squadron in Jacksonville, NC in the late 1990s, organizing boating education classes, and volunteering to do Vessel Safety boat inspections.  He transferred to the Catawba Sail and Power Squadron, remaining active with that organization until 2013.

Mike was preceded in death by his mother, Patricia Isabel McConnell Daly and his father, James Joseph Daly of Arlington, VA; step-mother, Adele Cisielski Daly; grandparents, Leo and Alice Galbraith McConnell; and Michael Francis and Catherine Herrity Daly, as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins in the greater Washington, DC area.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Carol Auclair Daly of Rock Hill, as well as his four children, Susan V. Daly of Rock Hill; Colleen M. Daly Dick and her husband Darren Dick of Rock Hill; Michael Joseph Daly of Charlotte, NC; and Ryan M. Daly and wife, Chelsea of Clover, SC.  He also leaves two grandsons, Ryan Michael Daly Jr., and Merik L. Daly of Clover, the light of his life. 

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