Summerville, Oregon
Tracy Lawrence Epping, 56, of Summerville, died April 16. Services will begin at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at St. Mary’s Church in Mt. Angel. A reception will follow at St. Mary’s Church Hall. Those who cannot attend the service may go to www.danielschapel.com to sign the guest book or leave a condolence online.
Tracy was born March 1, 1951, in Salem. He earned an engineering degree from Oregon State University and began a construction career in the Willamette Valley, where he got married and raised his daughters. He moved to the Grande Ronde Valley in 2003 and lived on a ranch while continuing his career in construction.
He was passionate about his family, friends and horses. Always a competitive spirit, Tracy completed the 100-mile Tevis Cup endurance ride in California on his favorite horse, “Kid.”
He felt most at home in the wilderness and shared many great hunting, fishing and camping adventures with his family and friends. In recent years he was a dedicated volunteer with the Clackamas and Union County Search and Rescue teams.
Survivors include his parents, Larry and Jeanette; daughters, Jenny and Dianne and her husband, Nick Johnson; first wife, Kay Rufener; second wife, Sue Epping, and her children, Josh and Sierra; brothers, Randy, Daniel and Gary and his wife, Jennifer; sister, Shawn Engelberg and her husband, Chas; and and four nephews.
Memorials may be made to Union County Search and Rescue or to MHA of Oregon, Bipolar Disorders research (Regional Research Institute, Portland State University) in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 Seventh St., La Grande 97850.
The Observer – Obituaries for the week ending April 28, 2007 Published: April 28, 2007
