Mary Van Wagner Tracy
April 30, 1943 – September 16, 2021
Huntersville, NC – Mary Van Wagner Tracy passed away peacefully at her home in Huntersville, NC on Thursday, September 16, 2021. Born April 30, 1943 in Charlotte, NC, she was the daughter of the late Rose Ellen and Wiley Van Wagner. Affectionately known to many friends as Mimi, she grew up in Charlotte and graduated from Myers Park High School in 1961. After graduation, she attended the University of South Carolina at Columbia , SC.
Mimi’s love for travel was rooted in her career choice as a civilian US Air Force employee based in Wiesbaden, Germany. During those years she enjoyed skiing in the Swiss Alps with friends or taking a night train to Paris. She also met her beloved husband Jim who was an Air Force officer stationed at the base. They fell in love, got married and a few years later their son Patrick was born.
At the end of 1971, Mimi and Jim moved from Wiesbaden to Charlotte and three years later their daughter Katherine was born. Mimi took pride in raising her family surrounded by a close community of friends and neighbors. She loved to play league tennis, was involved in school activities and children’s sports, and she cherished decades of fun with her tight-knit bridge club.
Mimi also enjoyed her years as a residential real estate agent and travel agent in Charlotte. She thrived organizing trips with her family and loved sharing her favorite cities in Europe with close friends. Mimi and Jim enjoyed making the family beach vacation fun for the kids and their friends as well as each other.
The Tracy House has always been a hangout for teens to play basketball or just hang out. Mimi was a warm and welcoming hostess and a second mom to many of her children’s friends. Her dry mind and the sparkle in his eyes made her a pleasure to be with her. She was a generous and loyal friend. Mimi’s gentle grace and brilliant manners will always be remembered by all who knew her.
She was thrilled to have five beautiful grandchildren and couldn’t hide her pride and affection for them as well as for her niece, nephews and extended family members.
Mimi was predeceased by her husband James F. Tracy. She is survived by her son, Patrick Tracy and his wife, Gena of Cornelius and their children Braxton, Sarah Blake and Aubrey; her devoted daughter, Katherine Tracy Pepper and her husband, Rodney of Concord and daughters of Katherine, Savannah and Ashley; his beloved brother, Charles Van Wagner of Raleigh and his sons, Charlie and James. There has always been a place in Mimi’s heart for her pets over the years, especially her devoted beagle Tommy.
The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to Mimi’s special caregiver, Tina Schumaker, and her amazing hospice nurse, Max.
A service to honor Mimi’s life will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, September 20, 2021 at Myers Park United Methodist Church, 1501 Queens Road, Charlotte, NC 28207. The family will receive friends after the church service.
Arrangements are made at the Kenneth W. Poe Funeral and Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences can be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.
April 30, 1943 – September 16, 2021
Huntersville, NC – Mary Van Wagner Tracy passed away peacefully at her home in Huntersville, NC on Thursday, September 16, 2021. Born April 30, 1943 in Charlotte, NC, she was the daughter of the late Rose Ellen and Wiley Van Wagner. Affectionately known to many friends as Mimi, she grew up in Charlotte and graduated from Myers Park High School in 1961. After graduation, she attended the University of South Carolina at Columbia , SC.
Mimi’s love for travel was rooted in her career choice as a civilian US Air Force employee based in Wiesbaden, Germany. During those years she enjoyed skiing in the Swiss Alps with friends or taking a night train to Paris. She also met her beloved husband Jim who was an Air Force officer stationed at the base. They fell in love, got married and a few years later their son Patrick was born.
At the end of 1971, Mimi and Jim moved from Wiesbaden to Charlotte and three years later their daughter Katherine was born. Mimi took pride in raising her family surrounded by a close community of friends and neighbors. She loved to play league tennis, was involved in school activities and children’s sports, and she cherished decades of fun with her tight-knit bridge club.
Mimi also enjoyed her years as a residential real estate agent and travel agent in Charlotte. She thrived organizing trips with her family and loved sharing her favorite cities in Europe with close friends. Mimi and Jim enjoyed making the family beach vacation fun for the kids and their friends as well as each other.
The Tracy House has always been a hangout for teens to play basketball or just hang out. Mimi was a warm and welcoming hostess and a second mom to many of her children’s friends. Her dry mind and the sparkle in his eyes made her a pleasure to be with her. She was a generous and loyal friend. Mimi’s gentle grace and brilliant manners will always be remembered by all who knew her.
She was thrilled to have five beautiful grandchildren and couldn’t hide her pride and affection for them as well as for her niece, nephews and extended family members.
Mimi was predeceased by her husband James F. Tracy. She is survived by her son, Patrick Tracy and his wife, Gena of Cornelius and their children Braxton, Sarah Blake and Aubrey; her devoted daughter, Katherine Tracy Pepper and her husband, Rodney of Concord and daughters of Katherine, Savannah and Ashley; his beloved brother, Charles Van Wagner of Raleigh and his sons, Charlie and James. There has always been a place in Mimi’s heart for her pets over the years, especially her devoted beagle Tommy.
The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to Mimi’s special caregiver, Tina Schumaker, and her amazing hospice nurse, Max.
A service to honor Mimi’s life will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, September 20, 2021 at Myers Park United Methodist Church, 1501 Queens Road, Charlotte, NC 28207. The family will receive friends after the church service.
Arrangements are made at the Kenneth W. Poe Funeral and Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences can be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.
Posted by Charlotte Observer on Sep 19, 2021.
