Gerda Elisabeth Tracy

Gerda Elisabeth Tracy (nee Schmitt), 88, slipped into the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on November 2, 2017. She is survived by her sister, Melitta Myers, and her children, Mary Beale (Don), Patty Perrin (Bill), Dan Tracy (Cindy), Margie Flohr, Mark Tracy (Patty), and Sharon Willson (Steve), 21 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren. Gerda’s life was one of exuberant life, laughter, adventure, and trial. She lived outside the box, which opened her children to an extraordinary world-view. . Born in Mannheim,Germany. Gerda grew up in Germany during one of the most infamous periods in its history, World War II. She was evacuated to the Black Forrest with her school. After the war, she worked on the American military base where she met her husband, Bob, then a Captain in the Army. . She became a naturalized American citizen after coming to the States, and was proud of her adopted country. Wife of a U.S. Army officer, she followed him to every new duty station. She moved from Mannheim, Germany to Louisville, Kentucky; then to El Paso, Texas, where he retired from the military and entered the DOD Civil Service. She accompanied him back to Germany, first Heidelberg, [PP2] then Karlsruhe, then to Vicenza, Italy, then to Worms, Germany, and on to Cadolzburg,[PP3] Germany until retirement age. They retired in Roquetas de Mar, Spain. She could pack up a house and move in a matter of days. Just as quickly, she made their new house a home.. With the protective instincts of a mother bear, Gerda loved deeply, forgave quickly, and never stopped loving anyone she cared about.. To Gerda, a stranger was a friend she hadn’t met yet, and within minutes of meeting one, they knew all about her, her husband, her children – her life. . A soldier’s pay wasn’t much, but she stretched every penny and her family never lacked anything important. Books checked out of the library became the source of their indoor entertainment. The kids read voraciously, at a level far above their grade level, because Gerda never censored what they read. She made sure her kids learned about other cultures and spoke other languages by enrolling them in German school, and then Italian school before allowing them to complete their education in American schools. She loved to travel, calling her family gypsies and making every trip an enjoyable and educational adventure. . She was one of the fastest learners of languages we know. She wanted to know what the natives were talking about her behind her back. When Gerda and her husband Bob danced together, people would form a circle around them to watch. They were wonderful ballroom dancers. Mom’s friends spoke in Spanish, English, Italian and/or German, and Mom spoke them all. Conversations were colorful and varied and multi-lingual. She could jump from one to the other with ease. She and Bob spent their golden years together in Roquetas de Mar, on the Costa del Sol in Spain. Their house was two blocks from the Mediterranean. Gerda lived there for 36 years. After her husband’s death, she came to Naples. Music oozed out of her through the tunes she whistled under her breath. She would burst into song at any moment, anywhere. She played the accordion and keyboard, and loved worship music of all kinds, from traditional to Christian rock. She loved the Lord Jesus to the point that her face lit up every time someone mentioned Him.Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves or the crash of loud thunder: “Praise the Lord! For the Lord our God, the Almighty reigns. Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to Him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his Bride has prepared herself. She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.” ---- Revelation 19: 6,7,8 We imagine our mother at this celebration and the look on her face as she receives her “pure white” wedding gown from the hands of God. Mom, we miss you, but we rejoice that you are exactly where you wanted to be. We could just say: “moved from Mannheim Germany to Louisville, Kentucky, to El Paso, Tx, to Heidelberg and then Karlsruhe in Germany, Vicenza, Italy, Worms and Cadolzburg, Germany, Roquetas de Mar, Spain, then Naples, Florida.” Nurenberg, Mark didn’t read much, but preferred to be outside. Gerda instilled a healthy love of reading into her children. She loved music and listened to her favorite records all day. She loved to travel and made our many trips enjoyable and educational. She was one of the fastest learners of languages we know. She wanted to know what the natives were talking about her behind her back3 6 years ]When is the last time she played the accordion she loved so much? ]We Imagine our mother at this celebration and the look on her face as she receives her “pure white” wedding gown from the hands of God.