Gordon Tracey

Gordon R. Tracey, 73, of Eureka, died Monday, Dec. 25, 2006, in Kalispell.

He was born Jan. 22, 1933, in Detroit, Mich., to Russell and Chrystal Tracey.

Gordon grew up in the lower peninsula area of Michigan.

He graduated from high school in Hillman, Mich., in 1951.

Gordon served in the U.S. Army and returned to Michigan after his honorable discharge in 1954.

He worked on the Great Lakes as a merchant seaman for several years and later for Besser Block Co. in Alpina, Mich. During those years, he also operated a farm.

Gordon and his wife, Kathleen "Katie," came to Montana in 1990.

Gordon worked for the U.S. Forest Service in Libby and then in Eureka, where they moved in 1998.

Gordon was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

He is survived by his wife in Eureka; a son, Greg Tracey of Lansing, Mich.; and stepchildren Debbie Kande and James Armstrong of Taylor, Mich., Donald Armstrong of Trenton, Mich., and Jeffrey Armstrong of Ecourse, Mich.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 2, at First Baptist Church in Eureka. Interment with military honors will follow at Tobacco Valley Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 1, at Nelson & Vial Funeral Home in Eureka.