LOUISE E. TRACY

Dec 3, 1924 - March 21, 2011

Mueller's Tri-Cities Funeral Home

Longtime Pasco resident Louise Ellen Tracy, 86, passed away March 21, 2011, at Vancouver, WA.

She was born December 3, 1924, in Oakley, Idaho. Louise and her Mom and brothers moved from Idaho to Los Angeles, California, when she was eight years old.

While in LA, she met and married the love of her life, Norman Tracy on September 23, 1941. They moved several times with their two daughters before settling in the Tri-City area where they lived for 58 years. They celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary in 2008. Then on November 24, 2008, Norman lost his battle with asbestosis. Louise left the Tri-Cities to live with her daughter's family in La Center, WA, where she lived until the time of her death.

Louise was a loving wife, mother and grandmother who will be greatly missed by her family and many friends. She was a skilled seamstress who sewed for many loyal customers through the years. She sewed anything from beautiful wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses, square dance to recital costumes and men's tailored suits. In addition to sewing, her hobbies included knitting, crocheting, bowling (in the majors bowling, many 200+ games and belonged to the 600 club), was a good gardener who grew wonderful vegetables and flowers, camping and fishing (especially loved Canada where Norman was from), bible study and loved watching the Mariners baseball. She won awards for catching the biggest fish during derbies at the coast. Louise worked out of the home after her last fledgling left the nest, working in the food industry (various restaurants and Hanford). She last worked at Columbia Basin College in the Hub where she met and made many friends. She was a really good cook.

Once retired, Louise and Norman loved going to garage sales and buying tools that needed repaired along with fishing rods and reels and beautiful crystal. They resold these items at the large flea market held at Packwood, WA, during the Memorial Day holiday. While there they befriended many wonderful people who would return year after year to see what they had brought to sell.

Louise is survived by her daughter, Melissa Tracy; grandchildren: Chuck Jones (Beth), Mike Jones, Debbie Lewis, Becky Lewis, Christy Johnson (Chuck), Billy Platt, Bobby Bennett; ten great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild; sister-in-law, Lucille Tines, and nieces and nephews. Louise was preceded in death by her husband, Norman Tracy; a daughter, Patricia Marie Kelly; brothers, Charles and Herman Gilman; grandson, Kip Jones; and great-great-granddaughter, Emma.

There will be a celebration of her life at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 26, 2011, at Mueller's Tri-Cities Funeral Home, 1401 South Union Street, Kennewick, WA, followed by a graveside service.

The family invites you to sign their online guestbook at www.muellersfuneralhomes.com.