Leslie Dale Tracy was born on July 21, 1941, in a farmhouse on the family homestead northwest of Cheyenne, OK. He left this earth after 83 years and entered Heaven on Wednesday, September 25, 2024.
Dale spent his early years on the family farm, learning to work the land. In 1956, he trusted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior a few days af¬ ter his school bus driver (who was also the Baptist pastor) explained who Christ is to the entire school bus. During his senior year in 1959, he had his best basketball game ever during a play¬ off game where the audience included legendary coach Abe Lemons, who offered him a college scholarship on the spot. Dale played basketball at Oklahoma City University and graduated, but not before meeting Judy Chambers. Following Dale and Judy’s wedding on June 8, 1963, they moved to the family farm where they had a wonderful life together.
For decades, Dale and Judy raised three sons while growing wheat and alfalfa hay. Dale had a quiet work ethic and garnered respect from all who met him. Education was important to Dale. He served on the Cheyenne School Board of Education from 1967 to 1997, and he established the high school senior math and science awards named for his high school teachers. He accomplished his goal of ensuring each of his sons received a college education.
Dale enjoyed serving as a deacon at the First Baptist Church of Cheyenne for 53 years, and was known for having a steady voice of reason. He shared the love of God in countless ways to numerous men who worked for him on the
farm. Dale also loved backpacking, the mountains in the summertime, astronomy, coins, trains, and the southwest desert.
He had a deep appreciation for the hardships and struggles of his ancestors, and the family legacy they left to him and future generations. An avid genealogist, Dale worked with Judy to uncover both of their ancestors going back as far as 7 generations. Dale and Judy were co-founders of the Roger Mills County Genealogical Society and co-authored “A Pictorial History of Rogers Mills County”, and locally Dale was a “go-to” for local history events and families, including writing a weekly “100 Years Ago” newspaper column and developing the county Historical Map. In 2022, he was inducted into the Western Oklahoma Hall of Fame.
He loved the freedoms that this country provides and served 6 years in the
Army National Guard at Clinton, and he considered active military to be his heroes.
Dale was preceded in death by his parents, Collier and Alice Tracy, and his brother, Chester Tracy. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Judy; children Tony and wife Karla Tracy of Cheyenne, Keith and wife Amy Tracy of Edmond, OK, and John Tracy of Branson, MO and Amy Tracy of Aurora, CO. He was “Popo” to fourteen grandchildren, Whitley and husband Clay Lent, Riley and wife Baylee Tracy, Randa and husband Seth Overstreet, and Hannah, Sarah, Daniel, Asher, Ashley, Cameron, Noah, Logan, Keilah, Cole, and Moriah Tracy; and six great-grandchildren Shepherd and Archer Lent; Aiden, Hudson and Lawson Overstreet; and Oaklen Dye. He is also survived by his brother Ken and wife Peggy Tracy of Tulsa, as well as numerous cousins, nieces, nephews relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to either the Cheyenne First Baptist Church Youth Fund, P.O. Box 56, or the Cheyenne Educational Foundation, P.O. Box 142, Cheyenne, OK 73628.
Services will be on Monday, September 30, 2024, at 10:30 am at the Cheyenne First Baptist Church, with a private family interment in Cheyenne Cemetery.