Obituary for Lelah Tracy

Lelah Tracy

April 24, 1923 – August 6, 2019

Lelah Ann Knecht Tracy, 96 of Ponca City, Oklahoma, died on August 6, 2019. A Rosary service will be held at 6:00 PM Friday, August 9, 2019 at the Trout Funeral Home Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, August 10, 2019 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Burial will be at Resthaven Memorial Gardens.

Lelah was born at her family’s Lovell, OK, home on April 24, 1923 to Jacob William and Elizabeth Ludwig Knecht. At the age of 5 Lelah and her family moved from the farm to the “big city” of Enid. That same year she experienced a highlight of her youth when her family made a road trip to Washington State in their dad’s new 1928 Buick.

She graduated St. Joseph’s Academy in Enid with the class of 1941 and served as class president. Lelah went on to graduate from Enid Business College.

She met a young man from Texas who was stationed at Enid Army Air School, now known as Vance Air Force Base. On November 28, 1942, Lelah and Joseph Franklin Tracy were married. His military duty sent him to Ellis Islands in the Pacific, and Lelah stayed with her parents until his return.

A stay-at-home mother and home maker, Lelah joined the work force when her children became school age. Her employment history includes working in the office of St. Francis Xavier Church and in accounting at St. Mary’s Hospital, Enid. Joseph was employed with the George E. Failings Co. and following his transfer to Atlanta, GA., Lelah began a career as an accountant for the Georgia Cooperative Services for the blind. She was promoted to executive director and became a member of the board of directors.

Upon retirement, the couple returned to Oklahoma and made their home in Ponca City. Their union lasted 45 years until his death in 1987. On March 24, 1990, Lelah married Howard C. Morgan of Perry. He died February 10, 2007.

Lelah was a member of St. Mary’s Church and the St. Francis Guild, Her hobbies include keeping up with her flower gardens and playing bridge and other card games with her friends. She loved to cook for family gatherings. The family like to tease Lelah in that both sets of her grandparents participated the Land Run of 1889 – as Sooners. Lelah was a Oklahoma State University fan. Lelah will truly be missed.

Lelah’s children are Joanne Tracy Horinek and late husband Fred, of Ponca City; Fred Tracy and wife Pat, of Rockwall, TX; John Tracy and wife Vicki, of San Antonio, TX; and Nancy Morgan Groom and husband Tom, of Morrison. Her grandchildren are LaDonna Horinek Giachino and husband Phil, of Edmond; David Horinek and wife Sandi, of Newkirk; Tracy Horinek Didlake and husband Russ of Ponca City; Jay Tracy and wife Maegen, of Arvada, CO; Sheri Tracy Frye and husband Todd of Ozark, MO; Erin Tracy Butts and husband Marcus of Dallas, TX; Matthew Tracy and wife Katie, of Allen,TX; and Chelsea and Justin Kendrick, of The Woodlands, TX. She has 19 great grandchildren; 1 great great grandchild and brother, John W. Knecht

She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, Clifford, Harley, Faye Knecht Storms and Warren Knecht. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Mary’s Catholic School.

The family would like for you to leave condolences at www.troutfuneralhom.com

Source: Trout Funeral Home