SEYMOUR
Jeremiah James “Jerry” Tracey, 83, of Seymour, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, May 20, 2017, at Schneck Medical Center.
Born Sept. 23, 1933, in Seymour, he was the son of Cornelius “Neil” and Nellie Clark Tracey, both of whom preceded him in death. On Dec. 20, 1958, in Seymour, he married Patricia J. Greene, who survives.
He graduated from Shields High School in 1951 and attended the University of Louisville and Purdue University. He was a lifelong member of St. Ambrose Catholic Church.
In 1974, he started Tracey Engineering and worked as an area civil engineer and land surveyor until selling his business in 1998. In 1981, he was elected to his first term as Jackson County surveyor and held that office until 2012. He was a registered land surveyor and civil engineer in Indiana and was a member of the Indiana Society of Professional Engineers.
Those who knew Jerry knew that he had a passion for singing in barbershop quartets. For more than 50 years, he sang with the Barbershop Harmony Society, formerly known as SPEBSQSA, and was a member of the Seymour, Columbus, Louisville and Greenwood chapters.
In 1985, Jerry began another journey by researching genealogy. His deep appreciation of genealogy led him on several trips to Ireland. He traveled the highways, byways, churches and pubs from Ireland to other world destinations. He took two of his grandchildren on his last trip in 2015.
Besides his wife of 58 years, survivors include sons, Tim (Eleanor) Tracey of Longwood, Florida, and Mike (Julie) Tracey and Terence (Angie) Tracey, both of Seymour; grandchildren, Michael (Katie) Tracey, Martha Tracey, Jeremiah Tracey, Caitlin Tracey, Phoebe Zike, Davis Tracey and Dan Tracey; and brothers, John (Sue) Tracey of Claremont, California, and Jimmy (Joyce) Tracey of Seymour. He also was blessed with numerous nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Jackie Jo Tracey and Jill Hercamp, and a brother, Jeffrey Tracey.
The funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Woodlawn Life Celebration Centre in Seymour with Father Dan Staublin. Entombment will be at Riverview Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. until time of service at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made in Jerry’s memory to St. Ambrose Catholic School or Trinity Lutheran High School.
Online condolences may be made at woodlawnfamilyfuneral.com.