Kelley Elizabeth (Zook) McDaniel

1968 - 2009

Kelley Elizabeth (Zook) McDaniel, 40, passed away at her home in Two Rivers, Wis., on March 22, 2009, with her family and pets by her side.

Kelley fought a brave and determined battle against cancer that lasted for four years. Kelley was an amazing person who touched and helped many people throughout her short lifetime. She was a loving wife to Michael and devoted mother to their 9-year old daughter, Mya. She was loved and gave love as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, granddaughter, cousin, and friend.

Kelley was born on Sept. 19, 1968, at Kearney, to Christine Pinkerton (Zook) and the late Alan Zook. She moved to North Platte, with her parents and baby sister, Shawna, in 1970. Kelley graduated with honors from North Platte Senior High in 1986. She then attended Mid-Plains Community College where she received her Associate Degree in 1988. Kelley graduated from Bryan School of Nursing with her Registered Nursing diploma and then received her Bachelor of Science Degree in nursing from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1992. Her career as a nurse included hospitals in Atlanta, Ga., North Platte Regional Medical Center in North Platte, and in Green Bay, Wis.

Kelley married her best friend, Michael McDaniel, on June 13, 1998. They moved to Wisconsin that fall. Their daughter, Mya, was born on July 23, 1999. Kelley then joined Humana where she worked with many clients helping them get through various illnesses by providing them support and guidance. Humana appreciated and valued her passion for helping people and she leaves behind many co-workers who respected her work ethic, organizational skills, dedication, intelligence, and friendship.

Kelley loved to scrapbook, read, do handwork, travel, decorate and remodel her home, shop for bargains with Mya, collect angels, and watch movies with her husband. She loved her sister and enjoyed her nephews and they loved her. Kelley loved flowers, plants, and gardening. She was especially close to her grandmother Betty and her grandfather Pink. Kelley loved life.

Survivors include her husband, Mike and daughter, Mya; her mother, Christine Zook-Pinkerton; sister, Shawna (Cinch) Munson; grandparents, Marrion (Pink) and Betty Pinkerton; nephews, Noah, Ethan, and Caleb Munson; uncles, Alan (Joyce) Pinkerton; Ron (Marilyn) Zook; Tom (Joyce) Zook; Lloyd (Nola) Synovec; aunts, Gloria Bryant, Barbara (Dave) Drews; Michael's mother, Shirley McDaniel; his brother, Foster (Heather) McDaniel; and his sister, Cindi (Jay) Cochran. Kelley also leaves several cousins that she dearly loved.

Kelley was preceded in death by her father, Alan Zook, and her grandparents, Howard and Leona Zook.

A celebration of Kelley's life will be for friends and family at the Bethel Church, 2700 W. Philip, North Platte, on June 13, 11 a. m., with lunch immediately following. Burial will be at Floral Lawns.