Tracy Scrimsher was the nicest man you could ever meet — a gentle soul with a quiet strength, a warm
smile, and a heart rooted deeply in kindness.
Born on November 30, 1944, in Pocatello, Idaho, Tracy left this earth on April 4, 2026, promoted to
eternal glory. In the years between, he lived a life filled with curiosity, humor, and deep love for family,
friends, and the simple joys of life.
Tracy was born in Pocatello, Idaho, later moving to Montana and then Salt Lake City, Utah. While in
Utah, his mother and her brother, Loyal Atkinson, started a clothing store, and Tracy occasionally
modeled boys’ suits, with his photo appearing in the local newspaper.
A cowboy at heart, his love for the West never faded. When he spoke about Idaho and Montana, his
stories painted vivid pictures of steep hillsides, desert landscapes, and fertile valleys. From a young age,
he was fascinated by the trains that connected those remote towns to the rest of the world — a passion
that stayed with him throughout his life and later blossomed into a lifelong hobby.
At age sixteen, Tracy’s family moved to Pomeroy, Ohio. After graduating high school, he relocated to the
Columbus, Ohio area, where he lived and worked until his retirement.
Tracy appreciated the simple things in life — picnics, concerts, long walks, and quiet moments in nature.
He kept his mind sharp by doing math by hand (never a calculator!) and challenging himself with puzzles,
riddles, word searches, and Sudoku. In his younger years, he and his wife Cheryl loved getting dressed
up in their Western gear and going square dancing with the “Circle Eighters” twice a month. They also
joined a horseback riding club – which eventually led them to owning their own horses, over the years
enjoying many rides with Ginger, Stormy, Joker, Sunshine, Outlaw, Cheyenne, and Jack.
Like a winding horseback trail along a mountain ridge, Tracy understood that life takes many twists and
turns, and he embraced each one with patience and grace.
He loved animals, especially horses, sheep, and dogs – but NOT the deer that frequently visited his
garden! Give Tracy ten minutes with your dog, and he’d have made a new best friend. His gentle nature
made animals naturally trust him, just as people did. He loved his dog Sally dearly.
Tracy loved to travel and was fortunate to see much of the United States, particularly the Southwest, as
well as Europe. He had a particular fondness for Switzerland. In 1986 and again in 1991, he took
memorable trips back West to visit his father, Tracy Sr. The latter journey was a four-week Amtrak
adventure across the country, allowing him the opportunity to see his father one last time — a trip he
treasured deeply.
Tracy had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to joke around. He had a special gift for putting people
at ease, especially when they were stressed or upset. Whether it was a gentle smile, a witty remark, or
one of his favorite jokes. The grandkids fondly remember his jokes about getting a discount on “Holy
pants” – or the fact you couldn’t just disappear into the background when he was around – getting tickled
on the back of the neck, or him unexpectedly poking his finger in their ear.
If Tracy gave his word, he followed through. He was dependable, steady, and faithful in all he did. This
commitment showed clearly in his many hobbies and volunteer work.
He was passionate about gardening and flowers, and he enjoyed spending time with fellow horticulturists
in the UT Extension Master Gardener program. Tracy grew much of his own food, and during peak
season, visitors never left his home empty-handed. Tomatoes, peppers, green beans, radishes, and
countless other vegetables were generously shared with family, friends, and neighbors. As a native
Idahoan, he tried year after year — unsuccessfully — to grow potatoes on the Cumberland Plateau, but
he never gave up trying.
Tracy also loved creating things with his hands. Whether working with ceramics, latch hook, leather, or
other crafts, he found joy in making gifts for others. He especially loved seeing the smiles on the faces of
those who received something he had made.
Before retirement, Tracy also made things professionally. For over 33 years, he worked at Chase
Foundry, turning molten iron into cast iron designed to last a lifetime. He began at the bottom and,
through hard work and dedication, worked his way up to Plant Superintendent, managing the entire
facility. He was proud of the journey and the effort it took to reach that position. If you ever wanted to

learn the difference between carbon steel and cast iron, Tracy was always ready to explain how a
foundry works and the science behind casting.
After retirement, Tracy moved to Crossville, Tennessee — a place that quickly felt like home. He loved
the beauty of the state and enjoyed spending time driving throughout Tennessee, taking in its rolling hills
and scenic countryside.
Tracy became active in the Crossville Model Railroad Club, where he faithfully volunteered his time and
shared his lifelong love of trains. He also built an extensive train display that filled an entire room in his
home. He especially loved seeing the joy and wonder on young faces when they watched the trains run.
In July of last year, Tracy began attending Pine Eden Church, where he immediately recognized the
warmth and closeness of the congregation and deeply appreciated their welcoming spirit.
Tracy lived a life defined by kindness, humility, and humor. He left every place better than he found it and
every person more at ease than before.
He was preceded in death by his father, Tracy Perle Scrimsher, Sr.; his mother, Erma Atkinson Johnston;
his sister, Florence Erma Jernigan; and his brother, Burt Ray Scrimsher.
He is survived by his loving wife, Cheryl of Crossville, Tennessee; his sister, Alta Louise Lindburgh of
Dublin, Ohio; and his daughter, Carla (David) Horton of Grandview, Tennessee. He is also survived by his
stepchildren, Michelle (Todd) Kensler of Hilliard, Ohio; Brent Shiplett of Chilton, Wisconsin; and Steven
(Joyce) Shiplett of Grove City, Ohio. He is further survived by his grandchildren, Jesse (Barry)
Brickenstein, Shane (Hannah) McInerney, Mackenzie Shiplett, Hayley Kensler, Andrew Shiplett, Emily

Shiplett, Jacob Shiplett, Olivia Kensler, Abigail Shiplett, Karnie Kensler, and Gabby Horton; and his great-
grandchildren, Orion, Apollo, Jupiter, and Grayson.

Visitation will be held Thursday, April 9, from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. at hood Funeral Home, with a chapel service at 3:00 p.m.
Burial will follow at Crossville City Cemetery.
Though Tracy was a man of few words, his life spoke volumes. He will be remembered for his gentle
spirit, his steady presence, his quiet humor, and the kindness he showed to everyone he met. His legacy
lives on in the many lives he touched and the love he so freely gave.