Patricia Miller Tracy passed from this earth into Heaven on May 1, 2023, after a long battle to regain her health following open heart surgery.

Pat was born in Tyler, Texas on August 31, 1942. Her early childhood was spent in Tyler, but as a young teenager her family moved to Marshall, Texas where she graduated from Marshall High School in 1960. During her high school years, Pat was a scholar and a very active student. She served as Vice President of the Student Council, Junior Class Secretary, and Vice President of the Activities Governing Board, in addition to being a member of the Debate Team, the Pep Squad, the Latin Club, and being on the homecoming court. After graduation, Pat remained involved with her high school class by always participating in the planning of each high school reunion. She made lifetime friends among the classmates, and even today, 63 years later, she is still admired and loved by them all.

After high school graduation, Pat attended Lamar State College of Technology, graduating with honors in May of 1963, with a degree in Secretarial Science. While at Lamar, Pat was a distinguished student and active in extra curricular affairs including being a member of the Delta Zeta sorority, President of Alpha Pi Epsilon National Secretarial Honor Society, Treasurer of the Student Government Association, member of the Panhellenic Council, and homecoming queen finalist. Additionally, she was named to the Freshman Honor Society. Following her college graduation, Pat began her teaching career at Forest Park High School in Beaumont, TX as a typing teacher.

In 1968, Pat married her high school friend and sweetheart, Chris Tracy and moved to Huntsville, Texas to begin their life together. She was employed by the Texas Prison System at the Diagnostic Unit, then transferred to the Goree Unit to be a vocational office education teacher for the Windham School District. She enjoyed her work at Goree teaching the female inmates skills to help them gain employment after release. Pat stopped teaching in 1970 to be with her children, Don and Tara, until they completed grade school.

In 1980, Pat accepted a teaching position at Huntsville High school and remained a vocational education teacher there until her retirement in 1997. After retirement, Pat continued to contribute to education by serving on the board of the Huntsville Education Foundation and being a member and officer of the Huntsville Retired Teachers Association, both for many years.

Pat also led a very active social life during her retirement. She was an avid bridge player and loved to play with her friends on a regular basis. She played with several different bridge groups, including a very close group of lifelong friends that she played with for over 50 years. She had a love for sewing and quilting and enjoyed making quilts and blankets for her family, her grandchildren, friends, and neighbors. As an avid quilter, she was also active in the Tall Pines Quilt Guild for many years and loved participating in the planning of the annual Airing of the Quilts. As a longtime member of First Christian Church in Huntsville, TX, Pat enjoyed her fellowship with others and was a member of the Sunshine Sisters. At Elkins Lake, she liked to participate in the New Comers functions and the activities of her close neighbors. Pat also cherished her lifelong friendships that she developed with Delta Sig fraternity friends from Stephen F. Austin, enjoying many annual reunions and other gatherings with them. Also, Pat always showed love toward our country through her patriotism, honor of the American flag, and support for our military veterans.

Pat loved to go boating, too. As a young woman, she learned to water ski and was quite good at it. Her love of boating and being on the lake carried over into her adult life and she loved to go with Don, Tara, and her grandchildren and help teach them to water ski. Pat also loved to travel and she particularly enjoyed her trips to Ireland, Europe, Alaska and the Hawaiian Islands. Pat's favorite flowers were bluebonnets and roses, and she loved the peace found in watching the hummingbirds each morning.

Throughout her life, Pat enjoyed many wonderful friendships and experiences, but her greatest joy was her family. She was a devoted and loving wife to Chris for 54 years. As mother to Don and Tara, she was supportive, loving, and always had an encouraging word. She always put her family first and made sure that her family had everything they needed before herself. In 2007, she became a proud grandmother, and since, as "Grandma" to Jackson Earl Childers and Addison Tracy Childers, she dedicated her life to loving and spending time with them. She loved spending time playing games and swimming with them, taking them to experience new things,, and as they have grown, watching them participate in sports. Also, she always made a point to be a part of their lives in many ways - sending cards, making holidays special, calling to just say "hi" and celebrating with them their successes in school and sports activities.

Pat was preceded in death by her mother, Addie Louise Morton, her father, R.L. Miller, and her brother, Joe Dale Miller. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Chris Tracy, her son Donald Joe Tracy, her daughter Tara Tracy Childers and son-in-law Shaun Childers, her grandchildren Jackson Earl Childers and Addison Tracy Childers, her nephew Dale Miller, and several other nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank the many friends and family who lifted Pat and her family up in prayer, as well as all of the wonderful medical staff and caregivers who supported Pat throughout her illness.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Pat Tracy Memorial Fund at First Christian Church, 1800 Avenue R, Huntsville, TX 77340.