Tracy E. Perry

Tracy E. Perry of Longmont, Colorado passed away on September 19th, 2026 at the age of 87. He was born in El Dorado, Kansas on November 28, 1938 and his parents were Reti (Ellis) Perry and Virgil Marion Perry. He grew up in Idaho and participated in basketball, field events and football in the schools he attended. In 1956, he enlisted in the Air Force and was later based in Alaska, New York and North Dakota.

In 1961, he married Phyllis Larkin and in 1962 they had twins, Dian and Doug. In 1963, the family moved to Longmont, Colorado and Tracy took a position with the FAA as an air traffic controller. In 1966, they welcomed a daughter, Donna. While working with the FAA, Tracy became a full-performance controller and controller instructor. He also served two terms as PATCO president.

In 1982, Tracy and Phyllis were divorced. In 1990, Tracy went to work for Storage Technology Corporation where he rose to the position of Senior Technical Writer.

In 1996, he attended a High School reunion in Carey, Idaho where he was reacquainted with Lois (Judy) Gelskey, his sweetheart in the mid-1950s. They were married in 1997 in Cascade, Idaho.

After retirement, he took a part-time job with Empire Warehouse as a Rocky Mountain Doubles driver. He was a member of 3 Toastmasters clubs winning many speech contests and this gave him great joy.

Tracy was a member of the Aircraft Owner's and Pilot's Association (AOPA) and an active Flight Instructor. One of his students went on to join the Marine Corps and eventually fly with the Blue Angels. Tracy held flying certificates for Commercial, Instrument, Instrument Instructor, Multi-Engine Instructor, and Float Plane Instructor. He was also presented with the FAA's Orville and Wilbur Wright Master Pilot Award for 50 years of accident-free flying. There was nothing he loved more than to talk about airplanes.

Tracy was a volunteer at Children's Hospital Colorado and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado for over 35 years. He read newspapers for the Audio Information of Colorado for the blind as well as volunteering for Boulder County Respite.

Tracy is survived by his wife Lois, Dian Perry (Bruce) of Waterlooville, England, Donna Pape (Jeff) of Wellington, Colorado, son Doug and sister Patricia (Bill) Kluckhohn of Meridian, Idaho. He also had 4 step children, 3 grandchildren, 6 step-grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren and 6 step great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, Reti and Virgil, his stepfather, Jay Rolph and brother Everett.

Services are being planned for Spring 2027.

In lieu of flowers, donations would be most welcome to Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado (www.wish.org/colorado) and Children's Hospital, Colorado (www.childrenscolorado.org).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.howemortuary.com for his loving family.