Tracy Stone, 91

Edwin “Tracy” Stone, age 91, of Sturgis, and a former longtime Burr Oak resident, passed away early Monday morning, Nov. 1, 2010, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis.

He was born Aug. 19, 1919 in Burr Oak, Michigan a son of the late Edwin B. and Carrie Stone.

Tracy was raised in Burr Oak, where he graduated from Burr Oak High School with the class of 1936. Following his graduation from high school he continued his education and graduated from Cleary Business School before enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Force, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He served his country from December 1941 to November 1945, working in administration and earning the rank of Master Sergeant. He served in Trinidad, on Leyte (one of the Philippine islands) and in a town north of Tokyo, Japan.

After being honorably discharged from the service, Tracy returned to Burr Oak and met Shirley Blucker. The two were married on Aug. 13, 1946.

Tracy served as postmaster in Burr Oak from 1948-1974, and had an income tax and bookkeeping business for over 50 years. He was passionate about reading, particularly historical and biographical books and news and arts magazines. He was a respected member of the community, serving on the library board as secretary and treasurer for 25 years, and as secretary and treasurer of the Burr Oak School Board. He also was a member of the Good Fellowship Club and the Burr Oak Rotary Club. After moving to Sturgis in 1988, Tracy and Shirley were members of the Sturgis Hospital Auxiliary Popcorn Guild. Tracy was kind and caring, and will be greatly missed by family and friends.

He is survived by his loving wife, Shirley; four children, Ted (Patricia Pidalski) Stone of St. Malo, Manitoba, Doug (Deborah Vaughn) Stone of Bay City, Paula (Michael) Muszynski of Kalamazoo and Martin (Carol Byrd) Stone of Kalamazoo; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, Wendell O. Stone and Richard L. Stone.

In accordance with his wishes, cremation has taken place. A private memorial service will be held at a later date at the Kalamazoo Unitarian Church.

The Hackman Family Funeral Home Hackman Chapel, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis is entrusted with the arrangements.

The family suggests those wishing to make a memorial donation in Mr. Stone’s memory consider the National MS Society, P.O. Box 4527, New York, NY 10163 or donate by phone at (800) 344-4867.

His obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhome.com, where personal messages of support may be left for the family.