Tracie J Griggs' Obituary
A memorial service will be held at Mountain View Funeral Home on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013 at 2 p.m. for Lakewood resident Tracie Griggs, who passed away suddenly on Sept. 18, 2013.
Griggs was born on May 15, 1964 in New Jersey. Eventually, Griggs and her family made their way west to the Tacoma area. She graduated from Lakes High School in 1982. Griggs was a vibrant, positive, funny and life loving mother, wife and teacher. Her warm smile was a familiar face at the Idlewild Elementary School in the Clover Park School District for many years. Co-workers and parents all said she had a passion for children and treated them as her own.
Griggs was described as someone who filled the kids she worked with full of love, hope, encouragement, compassion, knowledge and thoughtfulness.
She also embraced the role of “soccer-mom” to its fullest. Griggs served as the team mom for the Lakewood-Steilacoom-DuPont Sharks boy’s soccer team in 2012. This year, an error in registration caused the Griggs family to switch teams to the Shark’s biggest rival, the Hornets. When the news of Tracie’s passing began to spread, the teams were devastated.
Over the weekend, in a show of solidarity and support, the Shark boys U14 soccer team donned army green t-shirts with their former teammate’s nickname on it, BIG FOOT, which Griggs would always yell at the top of her lungs while standing along the sidelines. The entire team stayed to cheer on their former teammate.
Griggs’s death was a reminder to her friends that tomorrow is never promised, and to live each day to its fullest. She died from heart disease at the age of 49, the number one killer of women.
Her death was a reminder to fellow-moms and co-workers to take care of not only the people around you who you love, but also take care of yourself. Griggs was often known to give the last shirt off her back to help someone. She had so much love to give, and she gave it freely.
She is survived by her husband Charles, son Isaiah and step-son Matthew.
To help the family with funeral costs and upcoming expenses, an account has been set up at Community 1st Credit Union. Donation checks should be made out to Charles Griggs but mailed to Community 1st Credit Union, c/o Sean St Claire, PO Box 870, DuPont, WA, 98327.
In addition, local artisan Rebecca Kinney, owner of Juliagrace Jewels, is selling a custom made bracelet to help the family of Tracie Griggs. The bracelet is $25, all of which is being donated to the Griggs family. You can purchase the bracelet online at www.juliagracejewels.com
Remembrances may be shared at www.mountainviewtacoma.com
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