Kent L. Tracy Obituary (1944 - 2015)

Our husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Kent LaVon Tracy passed away on February 28, 2015 after battling cancer for two years. He was born on March 24, 1944 to Ephraim LaVon and Juanita Ethlyn Twitchell Tracy in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He spent his early childhood on the family farm south of Idaho Falls. Starting at the age of nine, he spent his summers living and working with his Grandpa Twitchell on his sheep and cattle ranch in the Antelope Flats area. He learned his great work ethic and determination from his grandpa. He met and courted his wife Susan in his 1946 Ford Coupe, which they still own to this day. They were married on September 25, 1964. Kent and Susan were blessed with four daughters: Michelle, Kerri, Jennifer and Jeanna. As a family, they spent the summers exploring and camping in the mountains of Idaho. Fishing, riding motorcycles, and hiking are favorite family memories. Living in a house full of girls was an adventure, but he enjoyed spending time with his daughters. Kent worked in the irrigation and domestic pump business for 39 years in Eastern Idaho and the Treasure Valley. He started his own business, Tracy Pump & Crane in 1977. He worked hard, from sunup to sundown, always fixing and 'engineering' things, as he would say. Building and racing racecars was a lifetime hobby for him. He raced the circuits in the Northwest from Firebird Raceway to Woodburn, Oregon and from Mission, Canada to Seattle. He always said he had the "need for speed" and enjoyed his summer weekends at the racetrack. Together, Kent and Susan traveled to many different countries and explored Central America, the Caribbean, Mexico, Asia, and England together. He taught his grandchildren to share in his passions; working in his shop, exploring the outdoors, and early morning breakfasts of "Grandpa Pancakes, Eggs & Bacon." He is survived by his wife Susan Tracy; three daughters: Michelle (Michael) Tiegs, Kerri (Jerry) Young, Jennifer (Jonathan) Houssian; 14 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; three sisters: Loma Turnage, Susan Collins, Julie Wartchow; and brothers Farrell and Reed. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Jeanna Tracy Phillip; his parents and two brothers Russell and Steven. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We would like to give special thanks to Dr. Norman Zuckerman and the nurses and staff at MSTI in Boise, and the nurses from St. Luke's Hospice, for their kindness and friendship over the past two years. His funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at the Kuna LDS Stake Center, 3305 W Kuna Road, Kuna. Visitation will be held at the church beginning at 11:30 a.m. prior to the services. Interment will follow at Dry Creek Cemetery in Boise. Arrangements are being provided by Zeyer Funeral Chapel, Nampa. 467-7300 Condolences may be expressed at zeyerfuneralchapel.com. Service: Saturday, March 7, 2015 1:00 p.m. Kuna Stake Center 3305 W. Kuna Road Kuna, Idaho Visitation: Saturday, March 7, 2015 11:30 a.m. Prior to the Services Kuna Stake Center