The family of Caroline Rose Deer, the Clemson University student who died in a car accident earlier this month, described her as the brightest, sincerest and most genuine person you could know.
Deer, 20, was a Mount Pleasant native. After graduating from Wando High School in 2021, she decided to attend Clemson, following in the footsteps of her other family members who studied in Tigertown.
Deer majored in genetics and was set to graduate this December. Her aunt, Lisa Scott, said Deer had spoken of a career in medicine with plans on attending pharmacy or medical school after Clemson.
"She was always interested in helping other people," Scott said.
Caroline Deer loved the outdoors. In her obituary, her family wrote, "her sense of adventure and curiosity knew no limits."
With nearly all of her credits complete and several appearances on the dean's list, Deer's family said Clemson will posthumously award her bachelor's degree at a ceremony in the future.
Outside of class, Deer most recently worked as a pharmacy tech for CVS in Seneca. Her coworkers put up a rose in the store in her memory after her passing.
Orange runs in the family. One of Scott's favorite recent memories with her niece was when the family all got together to tailgate for a Clemson football game last fall. It was the rare occasion when everyone's busy schedules lined up.
Deer loved the outdoors. Whether it was swimming at the beach or hiking in the mountains, Scott said that was when she was the happiest.
"We would always joke that there's not enough vitamin D in the world for her," Scott said.
From a young age to when she finally got her driver's license, Deer expressed a desire to be an organ donor. After her death, the organization that handled the donation let Deer's family know they can direct part of it to someone they know if they're a match.
A family friend in need of a kidney was that match.
A 42-year-old father is recovering well after the surgery. As Deer's family grieves, Scott said the fact she is living on through someone else right now gives them strength.
Caroline Deer, 20, died on April 14.
"Knowing that his three beautiful children are going to have their daddy around for a long time, that he's off dialysis, it's just amazing," Scott said.
Deer's family hopes to keep her memory alive through a scholarship fund at Wando. Donations to the fund will support a scholarship in her name for a female senior attending Clemson who plans to major in the biosciences or health care.
With the scholarship, Deer will be able to help people, just as she had planned to.
Friends are invited to visit with the family at the J. Henry Stuhr Chapel at 1494 Mathis Ferry Rd in Mount Pleasant on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, from 6 to 8 p.m. A private family funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 24, at 2 p.m. A celebration of Deer's life will be held at a later date.
