Carol Jean Radcliff

Carol Jean Radcliff, age 83, passed away at her home in Plano, Texas on Sunday December 28, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Los Angeles, California on September 28, 1942, and was the daughter of Kermit David Lacy and Ethel May Gergan.

Carol had such a passion and love for singing, music and plays, that she received dramatic training from the Pasadena Playhouse where she appeared in “The young and the Fair”. From there she went on to play leads in Shakespearean plays. Her first Opera productions included Puccini's Gianni Schicchi” singing the role of Nelda and Siebel in Faust. She also loved Hawaiian culture and music so much she started taking Hula dancing lessons. Carol and Mike met at a Christmas Party where they married 8 months later, on August 29th, 1970. While on their honeymoon to Hawaii this enforced Carol's love for Hawaiian culture and music. Mike encouraged her to quit her job as a social worker and return to college to pursue her passion, which was to teach music. She graduated from California State University in Los Angeles, CA with her teaching certificate and bachelor’s degree in music. Her first teaching assignment was to teach orchestra at Lorena Street Elementary school in Los Angeles, California.

When Mike’s job transferred them to Dallas, Texas, Carol continued to pursue her passion for music. Carol was a member of the Dallas Symphony Chorus, and the Fort Worth Opera Company where she played various roles including a role in The Music Man. After starting a family, she gave music lessons out of her home and encouraged her own children to learn music. She taught string instruments at Amelia Earhart, Rays Learning Center, and then taught General Music at Herbert Marcus. While teaching, she attended Texas Women’s University in Denton where she received her master’s degree in music.

Besides music, Carol always had a passion participating in her church activities and went on a mission trip to Haiti. Her faith in God never wavered and that showed true with her fighting spirit. She was a member of the Helen Matthewson Club of Los Angeles California, Sigma Alpha Iota Music Fraternity, Order of Eastern Star, Daughters of the Nile and Daughters of the American Revolution.

She will always be remembered for her bright, contagious smile and always having a positive outlook on life.

Carol is survived by her devoted husband of 55 years Michael J. Radcliff, and son John D Radcliff and wife Laura, son James M Radcliff and wife Marlena, daughter Marcia E Bonn and husband Cade Bonn; grandchildren Alania Radcliff and Gabriel Radcliff, Parker Bonn and Callan Bonn. Also beloved family dog Lucy. She was preceded in death by her parents Kermit D Lacy and Ethel May Gergan, and her sisters Marcia Lacy and Rosland MacLennan.

A celebration of life will be held at 1:30 p.m., Thursday January 29, 2026, at Christ Church Plano, with a reception to follow.