Miriam Shamer Daly

Dr. Daly was a life-long Girl Scout who earned her Gold Bar in 1943. She graduated from Goucher College with a Chemistry degree in 1948 and from the University of Maryland Medical School in 1950. She married her classmate, Harold L. Daly, MD on June 28, 1948. They moved to Albion, Michigan in July 1955 where she practiced pediatrics, obstetrics and family medicine.

After a health scare in 1964, Dr. Daly vowed she would take a major vacation every year. The next summer, she and Harold packed their four children and dachshund into a Jeep Wagoneer with a canoe on top, and towing a fishing boat full of gear up the Alaskan Highway when it still included 900 miles of unpaved road.

She mentored 65 future doctors for three Michigan medical schools. Dr. Miriam practiced medicine until 1994 and served as president of numerous organizations including the Irish Hills Girl Scout Council (1993-1997) the Albion Community Foundation (1999) the Albion-Homer United Way (2001/2), and the Albion Chapter of the American Association of University Women (2005-2007). She was also active in the Albion Rotary Club, The American Red Cross, Albion Chapter of the NAACP and the Boy Scouts. She moved to Chelsea Retirement Community in October 2016.

Three hundred people, many in costume, attended her 100th birthday in Albion, featuring a showing of The Wizard of Oz at the historic Bohm Theater with a reception afterwards.

She is the author of a memoir, Doctor Miriam and contributed to her sister’s book, Four Generations Through Women’s Voices.

Dr. Harold was a surgeon who died in 1989. She is survived by four children, John Lawrence Daly (Nancy J.) of Chelsea, Martha Elizabeth Daly (Marshall Yacoe) of Los Altos, CA, Thomas Preston Daly (Jeanne-Marie) of Evanston, IL and David Tapman Daly (Nancy B.) of Plymouth, MI, eleven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Her daughter Martha became the third generation of female physicians in her family and two of her grandchildren are healthcare professionals.

There will be two celebrations of her life: Friday, June 5th at the J. Kevin Tidd Funeral Home, 811 Finley Dr. Albion, MI and Saturday, June 6th at the Chelsea First United Methodist Church, 128 Park St. Chelsea, MI. Visitations begin at 1:00pm with services at 2:00pm.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Miriam & Harold Daly Healthcare Scholarship Fund at the Albion Community Foundation or the Heart of Michigan Girl Scout Council.