Lois M. Tracy

MASON CITY: Lois M. Donaldson Tracy, 94, of Mason City, died Saturday, March 07, 2009 at the Heritage Care Center in Mason City. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at St. Josephs Catholic Church, 302 5th St. S.E. with Msgr. Joseph Slepicka and Rev. Craig E. Steimel officiating. There will be no visitation. Lois has donated her body to science. Inurnment will be at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery at a later date. Memorials may be directed to the Newman School Foundation or the Lois Tracy memorial fund.

Lois was born January 9, 1915 at the old Story Hospital in Mason City, the daughter of David Henry and Mary Elizabeth (Mullen) Donaldson. She lived in Mason City all but three years of her life (1920-1923), when the family lived in Cassville, WI. Her Father managed the Municipal Light and Power Company there. Lois received 3 years of her education from St. Charles School and the Public School in Cassville, WI. She graduated from St. Joseph School in Mason City in 1932, first in her class. Her extra-curricular interest was journalism. She was editor of The Mason City Blue J, high school newspaper, and was business manager of the year book, Anjo. In 1930 she was the local and state winner of the national Gorgas Essay Contest. Lois worked for The Stoyles Press, 1932-1936 as office secretary. She also edited Around the Square, the firms monthly magazine, which featured local persons and places of historical interest. Her favorite interview was with Margaret McMillin Shipley, Mason Citys first white child. The publications are now included in the Iowa room of the Mason City Library. Lois also worked for Jacob E. Decker & Sons office from 1936-1944, secretary to Milton H. Decker, purchasing agent. Lois married Eugene L. Tracy on October 8, 1941 at the old Holy Family Church in Mason City. She was a member of St. Teresas Sodality, Business Girls League of the YWCA, Double Y Social Club, Delta Theta Chi, Business Girls Sorority, Athenian Study Club for 20 years, a Girl Scout leader and Cub Scout den mother. She served on the boards of the Holy Family Guild, Holy Family PTA, Friends of the Library, and the North Iowa Girl Scout Council. She was also a member of the North Iowa Genealogy Society, MacNider Art Museum, River City Historical Society, and the Kinney Pioneer Museum. Her interests included family and friends, local history, genealogy, reading, and the Girl Scout program. Lois received several honors including Thanks Badge, from North Iowa Girl Scout Council, St. Annes Medal, from Archdiocese Council of Catholicism, Outstanding Senior Volunteer of 1979, from the Mason City Volunteer Bureau.

Left to cherish Loiss memory is her children: Jean M. Samis of Cranbrook, B.C.; Albert L. Tracy of Mason City, IA, David J. Tracy of Henderson, TX; special friend: Jan Hegenbarth; 11 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren; Nephews; John Donaldson, Daniel Donaldson Steve Allen, Doug Allen and Greg Allen; many great nieces and nephews.





She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Eugene in 1998; 2 sisters, Myrne Ohs and husband Gene and Sister Doris Donaldson, PBVM; one brother: John J. Donaldson and wife Wanda; brother-in-law: Rev. Maurice Tracy; sister-in-law: Elizabeth Allen and husband Wilbur.