Mary Tracy

November 21, 1931 ‐ June 02, 2022

Mary Tracy, (nee Botkin), age 90, born November 21, 1931, passed away June 2, 2022. Mary Virginia Botkin Tracy born November 21, 1931 in Columbus, Ohio, died on June 2, 2022. Her parents were Katherine and Walter T. Botkin and she had one sister, Joan Botkin Randolph. All three pre-deceased her. Mary graduated from Holy Name grade school and St. Mary of the Springs Academy high school. She graduated cum laude from the College of St. Mary of the Springs where she was Student Governor her senior year. She married Thomas A. Tracy in 1953 and spent two years as an Air Force wife. In 1956, Tom & Mary moved to Rocky River, Ohio where they saw their five children through grade school, high school, and college. In 1995, Tom & Mary moved to Hilton Head Island. Their lives evolved around wonderful times with their Wexford neighbors and special occasions with their ever growing family. Mary is survived by her five children: Thomas B. Tracy (Ginger) in Louisville, KY; Lynn Tracy Merriman (Tim) in Bay Village, OH; Lee Tracy McLaughlin (Mike) in Florida and Mississippi; Michael A. Tracy (Polly) in Columbus, OH; and David F. Tracy (Aimee) in Chicago, IL. Mary's thirteen (13) grandchildren are: Erin Tracy Isaac (Brian); Tommy Tracy (Irene); Ali Tracy Oxley (Mike); Michael Merriman (Emily); Kerry Merriman; Ryan Merriman (Victoria); Brendan Merriman; Katie McLaughlin Hinkle (Brian); Jacquie McLaughlin Dannreuther (Wes); Michael McLaughlin (Ann); Alexander Tracy (Jessica); Kathryn Tracy; & Meghan Tracy. Mary also was a loving great-grandmother to seventeen (17) great-grandchildren. Mary loved to write, to sing, to read (to herself and aloud to kids), to quilt, to travel, to play games, and to visit with friends and family. She liked to do just about anything any of her friends or family wanted to do. Mary & Tom traveled the world together, raised their ever growing family together, hosted charity events together, and stayed late at parties together. Mary wrote children's stories and wonderful letters, she owned the Turn of the Page bookstore for over a decade, and she made quilts for her grandchildren & all of her great-grandchildren. Mary sang beautifully. She volunteered tirelessly at the kids' schools and St. Christopher parish and was a founding member of Holy Family parish on Hilton Head Island. Mary and Tom helped the kids endlessly with their families and careers. Mary jumped into action whenever needed – after hurricanes, job losses, business struggles, health scares, or any other crises that might arise. Mary was a fun, hardworking, faith-filled and loving mother, wife, daughter, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. She will be dearly missed by all. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 am on September 24th at Holy Family and Wexford in Hilton Head, SC this fall. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent in Mary's honor to: •John Paul II Catholic School; 4211 N. Okatie Highway, Ridgeland, SC 29936, or •Holy Family Catholic Church; 24 Pope Ave., Hilton Head, SC 29928