in with the farmers. Then she would put the dress back on to go meet with the chamber,” said John Clarke, a long-time friend of Carroll’s who succeeded her as SMR’s CEO. “She had that ability to get along with people from all walks of life.”

Friends say Carroll possessed a unique ability to secure unanimous votes among board members — even if family members were bickering at the time.

Clarke also remembers one meeting with county officials, as SMR was attempting to build commercial space south of University Parkway.

The county had decided, via purple dots on a map, where commercial development could occur. Lakewood Ranch had no such dot.

But when Carroll showed up to a meeting in a purple dress, it only took her a few minutes to changetheir minds.

By 1995, Lakewood Ranch would grow to include 15,000 residents.

“Lakewood Ranch is her heritage, her legacy,” said Lynn Robbins, a Coldwell Banker Realtor and a long-time friend of Carroll’s.

Carroll also was instrumental in bringing polo fields, the tony Out of Door Academy private school and a hospital to the master-planned community.

After Carroll retired from SMR in 1997, she helped develop The Glenridge on Palmer Ranch, a major senior living development. She lived there and served as the first chairman of the board.

She also served on the boards of the Sarasota Community Foundation, Argus Foundation, Lighthouse for the Blind and Manatee Memorial Hospital.

“Her reputation was top drawer,” said Tom Danahy, president of Babcock Ranch, who knew Carroll through SMR. “She was held in a high regard by everyone