ELLSWORTH – Phyllis J. (Ferguson) Tracy, 102, died quietly June 5, 2012, at Collier’s Health Care Facility, Ellsworth. She was born Feb. 14, 1910, in Bolton, England, daughter of Alexander and Frances (Holden) Ferguson.
She arrived in Boston from England in 1922 and traveled to Leominster, Mass., where she spent her youth finishing school while singing and acting in local and church plays with her two brothers. Phyllis met her “to be” husband, Edward Tracy while he was managing the JJ Newberry store in Leominster, Mass. They married and moved to various towns in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, birthing Joyce and Ernest, before they moved back to Massachusetts and had their final child, Hyla John “Jack” in Franklin, Mass. In 1941, they moved to Rockland and in 1943 moved to Ellsworth, where Ed managed the Newberry store while Phyllis involved herself in many Ellsworth activities. Phyllis loved working with her friends in the Rotary Anns, Bayside Grange, Surry Extension, Eastern Star officer, the Methodist Church and then Congregational Church, where her cooking, knitting, sewing, and leadership skills, helped enrich the activities of the organizations. She was a choir member for more than 50 years and lifelong member of the Congregational Church Ladies Guild and Busy Bodies. She funded an annual EHSAA Scholarship for students graduating from Ellsworth High School. Phyllis could be described by her friends as “Feisty.”
Phyllis is survived by sons, Ernest A. Tracy and Loretta of Ellsworth, Hyla John “Jack” Tracy and Elizabeth of Buxton; grandchildren, Victoria Ringwood (Tracy), Donald Tracy, Hyla Tracy II, and newly added grandchildren, Julie Tilden, Robbie Tilden, Andrea Tilden and Sarah Tilden Warner; 10 great-grandchildren and a recent great-great-grandchild. She was predeceased by her husband, Edward J. Tracy; daughter, Joyce Ann; brothers, Alexander and Ernest Ferguson.
Visiting hours will be 5-7 p.m. Friday, June 8, at Jordan-Fernald, 113 Franklin St., Ellsworth. A funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, June 9, at the First Congregational Church UCC of Ellsworth, with the Rev. Nick Davis officiating. Interment will be at Woodbine Cemetery. Contributions in Phyllis’ memory may be made to First Congregational Church UCC, P.O. Box 12, Ellsworth, ME 04605 or Ellsworth High School Alumni Association, P.O. Box 11, Ellsworth, ME 04605. Condolences may be expressed at
www.jordanfernald.com.