Tracy Carney Daniel, 45; Model, Mother

Tracy Carney Daniel, who died of breast cancer March 8 at Sibley Memorial Hospital, never considered being a model until she was in her 30s -- despite being "six feet tall, model thin and stunning," a sister-in-law recalled. She was a Potomac resident of 45 at the time of her death.

Mrs. Daniel was born in Bethesda and grew up in Rockville. She graduated from Rockville High School and received a bachelor's degree in English literature from the University of Maryland in 1986.

She was a real estate agent for several years as well as a volunteer emergency medical technician. She was working as a house painter when she injured her back in an automobile accident and could no longer pick up five gallons of paint. Casting about for something else to do, she took the advice of friends, had some photos made of herself and was signed by Central Casting, a Washington-Baltimore talent casting agency. She was 32.

She appeared in ads for Odyssey Cruise Line, Miller Furs, Eddie Bauer and Pacific Pools and was on brochures and direct-mail pieces for the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center and Bank One. She also did runway, trunk and trade shows and had movie roles in "Absolute Power," "12 Monkeys," "Contact" and "G.I. Jane."

After her cancer was diagnosed five years ago, at the same time her daughter was born, she focused on being a mother to her two children. She was a member of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Potomac.

Survivors include her husband of 14 years, Peter Daniel of Potomac; two children, Thomas Cushing Daniel and India Grace Daniel, both of Potomac; her parents, Rosanne and Jack Carney of Silver Spring; a sister, Jennifer Carney of Rockville; and two brothers, Jack Carney of Silver Spring and Matt Carney of Denver.