Traceford J. LaRose

Traceford J. LaRose

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – Traceford James LaRose passed away after a lengthy illness on Saturday, March 30, 2024. He was 73. Tracy was born on Feb. 20, 1951, in Manistique, Mich., to Edward August LaRose and Lavina May (Huffman) LaRose,the fifth of five sons. While in Manistique High School Tracy took up flying. He completed his initial flight requirement at the age of 15 under the tutelage of the late Vern Bernard. Upon his 16th birthday, he completed his first solo flight. His flying adventures were the source of many exciting stories. He passed his love of flying on to his son, Traceford August LaRose, who is currently a Captain at Delta Air Lines. He was a motorcycle enthusiast graduating from a two cycle Bridgestone in the early days to a huge four-cylinder Yamaha Road Star later, both of which were the source of many more exciting adventures. He and his wife, Harriet, were a sight to see pulling in the driveway on that bike! Tracy and Harriet enjoyed more than a decade of married life.

Tracy worked his way up through many jobs. He did a few years sailing on the Great Lakes on the International Harvester Great Lakes freighter. He then entered a career training program under the auspices of the Federal Manpower Development Training Act at Michigan Tech. This led to a career in Assessment Administration. He was employed at the Otsego County Equalization Department (Gaylord); the Leelanau County Equalization Office (Leland), and the Assessor for East Bay Charter Township in Grand Traverse County. He also assisted with several townships in and around Grand Traverse. During this time he served as an instructor of assessor training and certification classes. He personalized his training sessions as only he could. He then did a stint as an over-the-road trucker delivering paper products east of the Mississippi River for the Manistique paper mill. Traveling with him were his two beagles Fluffy and Sissy. If those beagles could have talked! He then moved on to the Marquette County Equalization office where he was a “star performer” ending up as the director until he retired. Tracy and Harriet enjoyed several good years of retirement until they both entered the same long-term medical care facility at the same time.

Tracy is survived by his son, Traceford (Jo) August LaRose of Traverse City, Mich.; Sue LaRose of Traverse City, his wife by a previous marriage; his brothers, David (Lois) LaRose of Manistique; John “Jack” (Lynn) La Rose of Manistique; Charles (Marsha) LaRose of Adrian, Mich.; sister in-law, Carol (Rodman) LaRose of Manistique. He is also survived by his favorite nieces and nephews, Vesta (Bill) Troxler of Manistique, David LaRose of Kipling, Mich., Gavin LaRose of Gulliver, Mich., Chere’ (Chris Lupa) La Rose of Forest Park, Ill., Jarred La Rose of Holt, Mich., Lisa LaRose of Loraine, Ohio, Dana LaRose of Petoskey, Mich., Shelly (Dean Kane) LaRose of Brown City, Mich., Charles LaRose of Peoria Heights, Ill., Leslie (Duane Severns) LaRose of Adrian, Ryan (Lisa) LaRose of Adrian, and Jonathan (Trinya) LaRose, New Bern, N.C.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Lavina LaRose; his brother, Edward Paul LaRose; and his loving wife, Harriet LaRose.

Tracy loved life, and he lived it to the max. The enthusiasm in all he did was contagious. In the most trying of times his attitude, his humor, and his love of living things, especially crows, was solid. Our world is a sadder place without Tracy LaRose in it. Tracy passed away while he was a resident of the Grand Traverse Pavilions long-term care facility. He was in the Dogwood wing. The love and support he received from his caretakers there was astounding. Their around-the-clock personal care exceeds definition.

There will be no services, with a celebration of Tracy’s life scheduled for Aug. 17, at the Manistique Township Hall.

The Lux Funeral Home in Alma, Mich., is assisting with arrangements.