Tekla "Tina" York Daniel

Tekla “Tina” York Daniel died peacefully at the age of eighty one on June 23, 2024, in Nashville, Tennessee after living bravely with Parkinson’s Disease for twenty six years. Born in San Antonio, Texas on November 22, 1942, to parents Colonel Edward “Ski” and Mary Elizabeth “M.E.” York, Tina’s childhood as an Air Force brat was particularly nomadic. Among the places she lived were Washington D.C., Washington state, Alabama, Texas, and California, but she always described living in Copenhagen, Denmark as her favorite childhood memory. After graduating from Armijo High School in Fairfield, California, in 1960, Tina traveled across the country to attend Duke University, where she majored in history. Tina was unique among Duke alumni in that she didn’t care about college basketball or reminding people that she went to Duke. Tina was an enthusiastic lifelong learner who adored NPR, The New Yorker, reading, and opera. She was an intrepid traveler, whether it was staying in a youth hostel in Portugal or traveling overnight by Greyhound bus to Mexico. She spent several summers at the Chautauqua Institution in New York, attending lectures, listening to the symphony, and spending time with her beloved grandchildren. As a fourth generation Texan who dearly loved the land and its people, Tina moved to Austin, Texas, in 1982 to raise her two daughters and be near her parents in San Antonio. In Austin, Tina found a vibrant community of friends, where she was known for her kindness and gentle spirit. She loved Austin when it was still a sleepy, quirky college town, saying it was the only city she knew of where you could go to the opera in jeans and no one would bat an eye. In short, she loved Austin when it was still weird. Tina delighted in sailing a Catalina 22 on Lake Travis and playing golf on the weekends. She worked as a physician recruiter and risk manager for Austin Regional Clinic for more than 20 years and she played an integral role in growing it from a small group of physicians to what is now one of the largest multi-specialty group practices in Central Texas. When she retired from ARC in 2007, two people were hired to fill her shoes. When living independently with Parkinson’s proved to be too challenging to sustain, Tina moved to Nashville to be with family. Tina’s family would like to thank Alive Hospice and the caregivers Saba, Emnet, and Eyoel at Saba Sunrise who lovingly cared for Tina in the final years of her life. Tina is survived by her daughter Anne Daniel Vereen and son-in-law William Coachman Vereen of Nashville, TN, daughter Allison Daniel Hay of Austin, TX, and grandchildren Mary Kimball Vereen, Lillia Harper Vereen, Daniel Hay, Harper Hay, and Woods Hay. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Edward Joseph York Jr., her sister-in-law, Joanne Fyda York, and her beloved cousin, Bobbie Ann Harper Person. A graveside service will be held at Larkspur Conservation, 155 Bear Carr Road, Westmoreland, TN, on Saturday, August 3rd at 10AM. What to expect at a natural burial: -Dress for an outdoor hike and wear appropriate shoes. -Use the restroom before you arrive, there is no public toilet or running water. -Carpool to Larkspur - parking is limited. -Plan to arrive 15 minutes ahead of time. -Family and friends will be welcomed at the trailhead by Larkspur staff and volunteers. -The casket will be in place at the graveside prior to the arrival of family and friends. -Family and friends will hike up the hill into the nature preserve for the burial ceremony. -Words are shared and the casket is lowered into the grave by family and friends. -With guidance, the family and friends shovel soil into the grave until it is closed. -Hike away from the graveside and return to your vehicle or explore the preserve. -Leave no trash behind. Cut flowers are welcome. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Foundation: https://give.michaeljfox.org/give/489725/#!/donation/checkout

Tekla "Tina" York Daniel

November 22, 1942 - June 23, 2024