Ruthann Tracy

1952 - 2024

MONTICELLO - Ruthann (Riley) Tracy, 71, of Monticello peacefully passed away on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at home.

Visitation will be from 9 to 10 a.m., with a funeral Mass beginning at 10 a.m., on Saturday, Oct. 26, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 102 Fifth St., Ivesdale.

Ruthann was born Nov. 28, 1952, in Monticello, to Dean Chandler Riley and Elizabeth "Betty" (Stoerger) Riley. She married Terry Tracy on June 23, 1979, in Ivesdale, and he passed away on May 15, 2019.

Ruthann is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth (Chris) Perry, and grandchildren, Jacob and Cassandra, all of Rochester, Minn.; sisters, Sandra (Laddie) Wright of Bement and Cheryl (Ted) Thaler of Monticello; and brothers, Jerry Riley of Cisco, Chuck (Kathy) Riley of DeLand, Kim (Debbie) Riley of Bedford, Ind., George (Mary) Riley of Weldon and Rodney (Josie) Riley of Belvedere.

Ruthann was preceded in death by her parents and a brother.

Ruthann graduated from Monticello High School in 1970 and Parkland College with a degree in child development. Ruthann spent her life dedicated to children. She worked at St. John's Hospital in Springfield, the DeLand school district as a teacher's aide, Piatt County Head Start and the Montessori school in Monticello. She also owned and operated a home day care center. She founded the Piatt County Day Care Association to help other home day care providers with financial aid, state regulation and sharing of ideas and standards. Ruthann also worked as a nanny for a lifelong friend in San Diego and Palm Springs, Calif.

Ruthann loved spending time with family and friends, traveling with her sisters and friends, and her 3 p.m. coffee hour. She enjoyed going to tea rooms for lunch, shopping with her sisters and going to her grandchildren's sporting events. She will be missed by many.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph's Catholic Church or an organization of the donor's choice.

Condolences may be sent to the family at mackey-wrightfuneralhome.com.