Carol Lee (Louis) McDermitt, 73, of Lincoln, Nebraska, died Friday, August 7, 2026, at her home in Lincoln.

A memorial service will be held on August 22, 2026, at 10:30 AM, at St. Luke's United Church of Christ in Columbus with Rev. Adam Lassen officiating. Interment will be in Columbus Cemetery. There will be no visitation. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Food Bank of Lincoln Foundation.

Carol Lee Louis McDermitt was born to George and Ethel (Rice) Louis on April 19, 1953, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Columbus, Nebraska. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Luke’s United Church of Christ in Columbus. Carol attended district #9 school through the 8th grade, 9th and 10th grade at Columbus Junior and Senior High schools, then finished her last two years of high school at a brand-new school, Lakeview High School, graduating in May 1971. Carol then went on to Platte Community College and graduated from there in May 1973. As an adult, she finished her bachelor’s degree at the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1985 with a double major in speech and criminal justice.

Carol moved to Omaha in May 1973 to work. She married in 1974 and had a son Gregory Martin Fast on January 15, 1977. Greg was a joy in her life. On June 6, 1982, Carol married Gary McDermitt in Omaha. Greg died in 1990. Gary died in 2014.

Carol worked full-time for Methodist Hospital, Bergan Mercy Hospital, the Clerk of the District Court of Douglas County, Central States Health and Life Co. of Omaha, and finished up her working career in Consumer Affairs at the Nebraska Department of Insurance in Lincoln.

She volunteered for Boy Scouts of America, Keystone Little League, the Literacy Program of Omaha, Neighbor to Neighbor in Auburn, Nebraska, the churches she attended, and HoriSun Hospice. She also was a 24+ gallon blood donor for the American red Cross. Her blood had a factor in it that was needed for NICU babies so for several years she donated every other week. They would withdraw her blood, pull the material from it that was needed, then run the blood back into her a pint at a time, which allowed her to donate every two weeks.

Carol was blessed with a loving extended family and many good friends. She had the best nieces and nephews and great grand nieces and nephews an aunt could ever have, and friends she cherished. Her faith in God was strong. It may have wavered when Greg died and again when Gary was so ill, but God had his hand on her shoulder the entire time and she made it through to the other side.

Carol is survived by:
Nieces – Peggy (Mike) Reese, Mary Johns, and Vicky (Dale) Filley
Nephews – Steven Hecker, Mike (Jeanie) Hecker
Numerous Great-Nieces and Nephews
Numerous Great-Grand Nieces and Nephews
Cousin and Friend – Karlyn Gigstad Huppert

Carol was preceded in death by:
Parents – George and Ethel Louis
Son – Greg Fast
Husband – Gary McDermitt
Sisters – Betty (Erwin) Hecker, Mary Jane (Bill) Bryant, and Darlene (Don) Mueller
Nephew – Mark Hecker