Patrick Thomas Tracy

Patrick Thomas Tracy, 92, of Sanford, passed away peacefully at his home September 5, 2024. Pat was born August 21, 1932 in Midland, Michigan, the eldest of seven children of John and Gertrude (Kearns) Tracy.

Pat was a faithful member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Sanford. A true Irishman, he embraced his heritage and felt that "to be Irish is to walk in complete mystic understanding with God".

Throughout his life, Pat was an avid sports fan, spending many years playing, coaching, and refereeing and was especially involved in hockey and football. Teaching others the core values of honesty, integrity, and good sportsmanship came naturally to him, and he applied these values both in his daily life and to those he coached. He also loved to travel, and he and Karol, his wife of 42 years, enjoyed visiting many attractions, both in our country and abroad.

After graduating from Midland High School in 1951, Pat joined the U.S. Navy and served as a corpsman aboard the USS Mount McKinley until his honorable discharge in 1955. For several years, he was a proud member of the Midland County Honor Guard. In 2018, thanks to the Mid-Michigan Honor Flight, he was able to travel to Washington, DC with several other veterans and visited many sites, including the Korean War Veterans Memorial.

Upon returning to Midland, he became a salesman for several years. In 1987, he and Karol purchased and operated the Sanford Barber Shop. Often called the mayor of Sanford, Pat "presided" over daily discussions. No topic was off the table and, for thirty years, people gathered at the shop to help solve all the world's problems, often creating more in the process. Pat thoroughly enjoyed those years and cherished the many people who walked in the front door as strangers and left as friends.

In addition to his wife Karol, Pat is survived by his brother Stephen (Rei-Li) Tracy of Midland, sons Shawn (Julie) Tracy of Wilmington, NC and Duffy Tracy of Midland, daughter Erin Allen of Wilmington, NC, stepson Lance Mercer of Farwell, MI, grandchildren Patrick, Katie (Mike), Shanna (Josh), Danielle (Jason) and Alexander, and great grandchildren Jack, Abel, Zoey, Lucy, and Charlotte.

Besides his parents, Pat was preceded in death by his son Brian, brothers Terrance, John, Thomas, and Bernard, sister Gertrude Varner, sister in-law Sharon Tracy, and son in-law Michael Allen.

A Catholic Memorial Mass will be held at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 2500 N. West River Rd., Sanford, MI 48657 at 11:00 am on Friday, October 11, 2024, followed by full military honors. Family will greet friends starting one hour before the Mass.

Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider My Michigan Hospice, 6810 Eastman Ave., Midland, Michigan 48642.