Carol Frances Grey Glaves, 80, a lifelong resident of New Port Richey, Florida, passed away on Sunday, October 25, 2026, leaving behind a lifetime of cherished memories, extraordinary friendships, and a family who loved her dearly.

Born on June 21, 1946, at the Naval Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, Carol was the eldest of four children born to William F. “Bill” Grey and Alta Grey. She grew up in New Port Richey alongside her sister Susan, brother Willy, and youngest sister Casey.

The Grey family’s roots in New Port Richey extended across generations, including Carol’s grandfather, Frank Irving Grey, and her father, William F. “Bill” Grey, both of whom served as mayors of the city and contributed to the development and history of the community she loved throughout her life.

A Lifetime Along Florida’s Gulf Coast

Carol’s childhood was filled with the natural beauty and simple pleasures of Florida’s Gulf Coast. She especially loved growing up along the Pithlachascotee River and spending time at her family’s stilt-house fishing camp in the Gulf of Mexico. Those experiences nurtured a lifelong appreciation for the water, wildlife, and special character of the place she always called home.

She found joy in collecting seashells, watching the beautiful roseate spoonbills, and admiring the way sunlight danced across the water like thousands of sparkling diamonds. These were among the simple pleasures that remained close to her heart throughout her life.

To Carol, New Port Richey was far more than a hometown. It was a place where families knew one another, friendships spanned generations, and nearly every familiar street held a story. She carried an extraordinary knowledge of its people, businesses, and history, and she loved sharing those memories with others.

Education, Family Heritage, and Professional Life

A graduate of Gulf High School, Carol continued her education at Jones Business College in Jacksonville, where she developed the organizational and business skills that would serve her throughout her professional life.

Her early career included working in medical records at a local hospital and in physicians’ offices. She later followed in the footsteps of her father, William “Bill” Grey, a respected New Port Richey Realtor and developer, working alongside him at Bill Grey Realtor in downtown New Port Richey.

Carol obtained her real estate license and became part of a longstanding family tradition in the real estate industry. Following her father’s passing in 1978 and the subsequent closing of the family office, she continued building her own professional career.

In later years, Carol brought her talents to the residential homebuilding industry, becoming an integral part of a small, close-knit construction company. Her responsibilities extended far beyond any single job title. From managing office operations, paying bills, and organizing schedules to helping wherever she was needed, Carol was someone everyone could depend upon.

Her professionalism, attention to detail, and remarkable ability to work with people were matched by the genuine friendships she formed. For Carol, business relationships often became personal relationships, and those connections continued long after the workday ended.

A Remarkable Gift for Friendship

One of Carol’s greatest gifts was her ability to form and nurture lasting friendships. Many of her closest friends had known her since childhood, sharing school days, family milestones, celebrations, and decades of memories together.

Carol was the person people called when they needed someone to listen. Whether they were sharing happy news, working through a difficult time, or simply needing someone who understood, she made herself available. Conversations could last for hours, and Carol had a special ability to listen without judgment, offer thoughtful advice, and make others feel genuinely cared for.

She also loved to laugh. Her wonderful sense of humor and the sound of her sharing hearty laughter with friends were as much a part of her personality as her kindness and compassion.

Those friendships extended well beyond her own generation. Families grew up together, children became lifelong friends, and relationships that began decades earlier continued through their children and grandchildren.

Even during her later years, Carol’s friends remained an important part of her life, visiting her, celebrating birthdays, reminiscing about old times, and surrounding her with the companionship she treasured.

Carol was also a gifted storyteller and a keeper of family and community history. With a remarkable memory for people, places, and events, she could bring the New Port Richey of earlier generations to life. She generously shared that knowledge with others, whether reminiscing with an old friend or helping a young student learn about the history of his hometown.

The Little Things That Made Carol Special

Carol had a beautiful appreciation for detail and a special talent for making ordinary gestures feel extraordinary.

Her cursive handwriting was exceptionally beautiful, something family and friends often remarked upon. She loved sending cards and took great care in choosing words that were personal, thoughtful, and meaningful. A card from Carol was never just a formality; it was another way of letting someone know they mattered.

She was also a devoted keeper of family memories. From photographs and school yearbooks to treasured keepsakes and mementos, Carol carefully preserved pieces of the past that told the story of her family and the life they shared.

Her thoughtfulness was perhaps most visible during the holidays.

Christmas Carol

Christmas held a particularly special place in Carol’s heart. She embraced the season with joy, generosity, and an enthusiasm that earned her the affectionate nickname “Christmas Carol.”

An exceptional cook and baker, Carol was famous for her brownies, homemade pound cake, and especially her Christmas sugar cookies.

Each year, she and her young son, Troy, prepared plates of cookies and holiday treats for friends and families throughout New Port Richey. Every cookie was arranged with care, and each plate was beautifully wrapped in festive red and green cellophane before being delivered.

For Carol, presentation mattered because the people receiving those gifts mattered. Her Christmas traditions were never simply about baking or decorations. They were about remembering others, maintaining friendships, and bringing a little extra happiness into people’s lives.

Those who received her homemade treats knew they were receiving something prepared with love.

Her Greatest Joy — Family

Above all else, Carol’s greatest love was her family.

As a devoted mother, she raised her only son, Troy, with determination, resilience, and unconditional love. Life presented challenges, but Carol met them with strength, resourcefulness, and a commitment to making a loving home for her son.

Their relationship grew even more special over the years. Carol was not only Troy’s mother but also one of his closest friends. They shared laughter, candid conversations, countless memories, and a bond built on honesty, trust, and a lifetime of love.

Carol shared an especially close relationship with her daughter-in-law, Aschell. Having known Aschell since her high school years, Carol adored her long before she officially became part of the family. When Troy and Aschell married, Carol was delighted to welcome the young woman she already loved as the daughter she never had.

She remained a loving and supportive presence as Troy and Aschell raised their two sons, Tanner and Greyson.

To her grandsons, Carol was affectionately known as “Nannie,” a name she cherished and one that held a special meaning in her heart. Carol had lovingly carried forward the name of her own grandmother, who was one of her favorite people in the world. In becoming Nannie herself, she continued a beautiful family tradition of love across generations.

Being their grandmother brought Carol tremendous happiness. Among their treasured childhood memories were the many trips they shared to Weeki Wachee Springs, where Nannie took the boys to watch the famous underwater mermaid shows. Those special outings became part of the loving bond they shared and created memories that would last a lifetime.

She took great pride in watching her grandsons grow, celebrating their accomplishments, and being part of their lives. Her love extended warmly to Tanner’s husband, Bryan Matechen, and Greyson’s fiancée, Skylar Rogers.

For Carol, family was never limited to those connected by blood or marriage. It included the lifelong friends, neighbors, and generations of families who became part of her world and whom she welcomed into her heart.

A Life Beautifully Remembered

Carol will be remembered for her warm smile, her generous heart, her wonderful laughter, her remarkable stories, and her ability to make people feel heard and loved.

She will be remembered in handwritten cards, carefully saved photographs, holiday cookies, family gatherings, and the countless conversations that meant so much to those who shared them.

And she will be remembered in the places she loved most: along the Pithlachascotee River, beside the Gulf of Mexico, and wherever sunlight sparkles like diamonds across the water.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents, William F. “Bill” and Alta Grey, and her youngest sister, Casey Ann Grey.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Troy and Aschell Glaves; her grandsons, Tanner Glaves and Greyson Glaves; Tanner’s husband, Bryan Matechen; Greyson’s fiancée, Skylar Rogers; her sister, Susan Grey; and her brother, Willy Grey, and his wife, Teresa Grey; her nephews Will Grey and Sam Grey, along with extended family and a remarkable circle of lifelong friends.

A loving daughter, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, sister, cousin, and friend, Carol leaves behind a legacy of kindness, generosity, resilience, and enduring love.

She will be deeply missed, forever loved, and remembered in the hearts of all whose lives she touched.

Celebration of Life

A visitation and Celebration of Life honoring Carol will be held on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at 10:00 am at Dobies Funeral Home, 6616 Congress Street, New Port Richey, Florida.

A private family burial will take place at East Elfers Cemetery, where Carol will be laid to rest beside her beloved sister Casey.