Tracey M. Lifner

WEST COLUMBIA – Tracey Michelle Lifner, 35, passed away peacefully in her sleep Monday, August 26, 2019 in Columbia, SC after battling acute and chronic pancreatitis. Tracey was born in Denver, CO, August 12, 1984 to Elizabeth (Betsy) and Kurt Lifner. Tracey graduated from Berthoud (CO) High School and subsequently from Western State College in Gunnison, CO, with a B.A. in Fine Arts and a minor in business. Blessed with amazing artistic talents, Tracey followed her calling as a tattoo artist, apprenticing in Ft. Collins, CO. Over the last 15 years, Tracey honed her tattoo artist talent and also freelanced as a muralist and illustration artist. In the fall of 2018, Tracey moved east to live near the ocean, her life-long dream after many happy family vacations visiting grandparents in the Tampa, FL gulf area, as well as Cape Cod, MA. Though her family and friends would miss her terribly, we knew she had to spread her wings and experience new adventures. She settled in Columbia, SC, created tattoos for new and existing clients, made new friends and visited the Atlantic shore nearly every weekend. Tracey is survived by her brother, Erik (Lifner); mother, Betsy (Lifner-Krebs) and stepfather, Jim (Krebs); father, Kurt (Lifner) and stepmother, Joan (Lifner); grandmother, Ruth (Sloan); aunts, Pam (Strain), Dee (Tiffany), Martha (Felch), Kathy (Lifner); uncles, Craig (Lifner), John (Tiffany); cousins, Craig, Jr. (Lifner), Brett (Lifner), Casey (Strain), Peggy (Bittner), Chad (Strain), Sarah (Ettinger), Kate (Canady), Marshall (Felch), their spouses and children. Tracey was preceded in death by her grandparents, Russell Sloan, Ruth Lifner and George Lifner. Tracey had a passion and zest for life; always an advocate for the underdog, she expressed her support for human rights as well as animal rights, and advocated improvements for the environment and the human condition. She was a steadfast friend and loved by so many due to her wit, generosity, creativity, free spirit, and caring nature. We will miss her every minute of every day. A "Celebration of Tracey Lifner's Life" is planned for mid-October in N. Colorado. Details TBD.