Lois Tracy

Clyde, Well known American artist, Lois Bartlett Tracy died at the age of 106 on April 8, 2008 at the Silver Bluff Nursing home near Waynesville, N.C. Lois was born in 1901 in Jackson Michigan and moved with her family to Florida in 1914. She graduated from Rollins College in Winter Park Fla. She met her second husband, Harry H Tracy while in college. He died in 1985. Her career in art began in 1929 when she placed first in an art show in Winter Park. She received other awards in that era culminating in 1936 with a Gold Metal award at the New York World's Fair. This began a long career in the art world with many "One Man" shows in New York City, New Hampshire, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida and participated in shows across the country. Over the years she headed several college art departments including the University Of Virginia College at Wise, the Cumberland Community College and Edison College in Ft Myers Fla. She was artist in residence at Rollins College in 1959. Her list of honors and awards is extensive over a period of 70 years as an active painter. This was capped by having two paintings in the Smithsonian air space museum, one in the N.Y. Museum of Modern Art, and one in the Chicago museum plus other museums and private collections. She is the author of two art books – Painting Principles and Practices and Adventure in Art. She was forced to retire from both writing and painting in the late 90's due to increasing blindness. Mrs. Tracy is survived by two sons, Donald Walker of Rives Junction, Michigan and Nathan Tracy of Upper Fines Creek near Waynesville, N.C. She leaves 9 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Her mind was bright and her disposition excellent until a peaceful passing – looking forward to an active new life to come. A show of her work is being planned in Englewood Florida where she lived for many years. A memorial service will follow at her former home and gallery.