Carol Lee Hoot of Hendersonville, North Carolina passed away on June 30, 2026, at the age of 86, surrounded by her loving family. She fought a spirited battle against dementia, a disease that shows no mercy. She was a member of West Hendersonville Baptist Church in Hendersonville.
Born in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, her family relocated to Hendersonville after an overnight stay on their way to look for a new home in Florida. Her grandfather fell in love with Little Hungry and built a home there by the river. She made many happy memories there.
Carol was a hard worker and was always at her happiest when she was busy. She worked at Kalmia Dairy as a teenager, which is only fitting because she would eat ice cream after every meal if she could get away with it. She went to work at Olin Corporation (Ecusta) in Brevard, NC in her early 20’s in the Endless Belt Department. She worked her way up to Supervisor of Endless Belt, which was quite a feat as there were very few females in those positions during that time. After her retirement from Ecusta she went to work at Pardee Hospital starting as a switchboard operator eventually working in data entry which she dearly loved because she got to work with numbers. After her retirement from Pardee Hospital she volunteered at Blue Ridge Humane Society and the Hendersonville Genealogical Society. She also kept records of her classmates whom she graduated from Flat Rock High School in 1957. She helped plan many class reunions.
She is survived by two daughters, Cindy Johnson Lowe (Mark) and Jacqueline Hull (Robert). She is also survived by her grandchildren, Adam Johnson, (fiancée Britney Brayere), Austin Johnson and his life partner, (Chris Lyda), Mason Hull Warner (Drew Warner) and Kaitlyn Hull. She was also the very proud great grandmother of twins, Atlee and Liam Johnson and, also leaves behind two nieces and a nephew.
Her greatest joy was spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was affectionately known as “Nanny”. She was also the ultimate caregiver, always volunteering to take care of her friends. She enjoyed sewing, canning, putting together puzzles, being outside, picnics and trips to the beach where she was an avid collector of shells and shark teeth, even managing to find a seahorse. She would also race you and almost knock you down to pick up coins on the ground.
Per her request, a graveside service will be held 10:00AM, Monday, July 6, 2026, at Refuge Baptist Church Cemetery, led by Reverend Craig Halford. She will be laid to rest beside her grandparents, Maud and “Doc” Brainerd, her mother, Ruth Ann Brainerd (Hoot), and her sister, Delynn Hoot Jackson. She was also preceded in death by a son-in-law, Jackie Johnson, Jr.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Western North Carolina Alzheimer’s Association- (https://www.alz.org/northcarolina) or to Hospice of the Foothills at 1074 Ozone Drive, Saluda, North Carolina 28773. Her care team truly were earthly angels of mercy. Many, many thanks for making her transition to heaven as comfortable as possible.
She will be greatly missed although we are rejoicing that she is in heaven with her Lord and Savior.
Go rest high on that mountain. Girl, your work on earth is done. Go to heaven a-shoutin’ Love for the Father and the Son.
