Raymond 'Ray' Tracy
Help us celebrate Raymond! Please share your stories and photos, and invite others who remember Raymond.
Raymond 'Ray' Tracy, age 75, of Grand Junction formerly of Aurora, Colorado passed away at home on April 10, 2021 from cancer. He was born in Billings, Montana and spent his childhood on the family farm south of Barber, Montana. He attended a one room schoolhouse called The Cavill School until 8th grade. Later he lived with family members in Bozeman to attend the high school and then college. It was in Bozeman that he met many of his lifelong friends.
He enrolled at Montana State University and completed three years before being drafted into Vietnam. After being honorably discharged Ray returned to MSU and completed his studies to graduate with a Bachelor's in Economics.
Ray met the love of his life, Sue, in Casper, Wyoming where they worked together at the same company. They were married in Casper on October 21, 1978. Their son, Kyle, would follow five years later.
His career brought the family to Grand Junction, Colorado for a few years. They moved again to Aurora for another thirty years, but their love of the Western Slope brought them back just three years ago. During the transition from Aurora to Grand Junction Ray retired from his career as an auto broker with HM Brown.
Ray was very active in youth sports; helping to coach his son's baseball and basketball teams. His hobbies most involved his love of the outdoors; traveling, fishing, and gardening at their home. One of Ray's greatest joys of retirement was 'holding court' every evening at six. He greatly enjoyed visiting with his neighbors and friends from his porch each day.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Eugene and Mildred Tracy; siblings, Betty Sweeney, Don Tracy, Vincent Tracy; and in-laws, MeriAnn Tracy, Preston Sweeney, and Chuck Flanagan. He will be deeply missed by his loving wife of forty-two years, Sue; son, Kyle; sister, Clarice Flanagan; sister-in-law, Sandy Tracy; and many other dear friends and family.
A memorial service will be held at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary, 2515 Patterson Road - Grand Junction, on Monday, June 7th at 1:00pm. A committal service will follow at the Veteran's Memorial Cemetery, 2830 Riverside Parkway - Grand Junction, at 3:00pm.
Memorials are welcome to HopeWest or the charity of your choice.