Date of Birth
December 2, 1983
Date of Death
February 1, 2014
Location
Gainesville, Florida
Who She Was
Her Story
Courtney Alexandra Hooker Tye passed away Saturday, February 1, 2014 from complications of childbirth.
Courtney was born, raised, and loved in Gainesville and had a passion for the surrounding areas, especially the springs. Her love and wonder of the natural world, led her to a career as a wildlife biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. She worked full time while earning her Masters of Science at the University of Florida. Her research was focused on Fox Squirrels and her development of the website for reporting their locations greatly enhanced the knowledge that we have about the species.
Her life was measured in so much more than her professional accomplishments. She gave her all to everything she did and she always had a smile and a kind word for those she loved, and her heart was so big that she loved many people. She came into their lives and made them better for having known her.
She was a famous catcher of snakes, toads, and frogs but her first and greatest love was birds. Courtney was always ready for a birding expedition and she knew their songs as well as the voices of her friends
Everyone who knew her will miss her and those who did not know her missed a chance to meet one of the all time greats.
She is survived by her husband, Barry Wayne Tye, her son, Carter Wayne Tye, sisters; Kirsten Habig and Michelle Spires, brother Logan Hooker and her mother, Jackie Palmer and father, Robert Hooker.