Tracy D. Smith

July 14, 1971 - August 1, 2021

Tracy Darnell Smith was born in Syracuse, Kansas, July 14, 1971, to Tom and Johnnie Crum.

As the second child of four, her childhood was filled with long days of playing with her two brothers and one sister while their parents both worked long hours to support the active family. Tracy herself would often say, “I grew up in a gas station,” which was true as the family owned and operate Cliff's gas station in Holly. It was within this life in the gas station, listening to the stories of the people of the town who came and went, where Tracy gained her brilliant understanding and intense care for people - from all walks of life. It was also within this setting, where life was sometimes intense, where Tracy learned how to work hard, play hard, and most importantly, love hard.

Her roots were deep in Christian faith, patriotism, the measure of hard work and how to be a kind person. Tracy eventually grew into a sweet, but feisty, All-American girl, and was passionately involved in cheer leading, dance, band and volleyball as a Wildcat at Holly High School, graduating in 1989. While in high school she caught the eye of a serious but successful athlete named Glenn Smith. They would become high school sweethearts and would marry June 2, 1990. 

Glenn and Tracy eventually settled in Eads in a little house on the corner of 13^th Street and Slater Street. While Glenn spent his days working as the Eads High School Superintendent, Tracy stayed home with their two boys including, Garrett, who was born in 1991, and Logan, who came along three years later in 1994. It was also there in that little house that Tracy started to pursue her passions. She loved talking with people and she loved helping people and making them feel better. What better way to do what she loved than to open up a beauty salon right inside her own home? Tracy soon gained many customers due to extensive talents in the salon, but she kept those customers because of her caring, fun and spirited personality.

By 1999, Glenn and Tracy purchased a piece of property located just west of Eads, what would prove to be the place Tracy called home for the rest of her life. The property had a cute little house located a few steps away from the main home, and it was here where Tracy’s Place was born. The new “shop,” as it was quickly referred to, allowed Tracy to expand her business and, at the same time, keep her busy family life and professional life separate.

In 1999, Tracy and Glenn got their little girl when precious Mariah Rose was born. It would prove to be Mariah, the only girl in the family, that developed her mother’s fun and bright personality, as well as her intense care for people of all walks of life. By growing up in the shop, just as her mother had in that old gas station in Holly, Mariah heard the stories, developed love for her school, and came to love the community members who came through the door at Tracy’s Place. It was a special place to grow up alongside her mother and the people her mother loved.

Tracy also put her heart and soul into the community she came to love. She was a founding board member of the Crow-Luther Cultural Events Center as she had fond memories of growing up in the Holly Theater as a child. She taught Sunday School and volunteered at most summertime Vacation Bible School events. Her faith was strong, and she lived it every day by example as she cared for the sick, the sad, the lonely and the down and out using her unique personality to encourage them all.

She was a fun and passionate mother, demanding her children succeed in what they took on. All three were strong athletes at Eads High School, and all three will have post-secondary degrees because their parents supported them in their athletic, academic and personal lives. 

Tracy is preceded in death by her beloved father, Tom Crum, and father-in-law Larry Smith.

She is survived by her husband, Glenn Smith of the family home in Eads; sons Garrett (Jena) Smith of Hays, Kansas, and Logan Smith of Lamar; daughter, Mariah Smith of Eads; precious granddaughter, Parker Smith; mother, Johnnie Crum of Holly; sister, Brenda (Shane) Goode of Kim; brothers, Tim (Neeley) Crum of Holly, and Clint (Alicia) Crum of Lamar; mother-in-law Joyce Smith of Holly, and many other friends and family members.

Funeral services for Tracy D. Smith were held August 6, 2021, at the Lamar Christian Church. Burial followed at the Holly Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Tracy Smith Memorial Fund in care of GNBank, P.O. Box 847, Eads, CO 81036-0847.

Arrangements were under the direction of Brown Funeral Home.