Jim Gracey

Memorial Services for Jim Gracey will be conducted from the Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege, Nebraska on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend David Sites and Darrel Wissmann, PMA, officiating. Inurnment will be held at a later date.

Jim Gracey, 81 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Saturday, December 12, 2009 at the Christian Homes Care Community at Holdrege. Jim was born on September 15, 1928 at Anselmo, Nebraska, the son of Edwin and Jennie (Simms) Gracey. He received his primary education at the Union Valley Rural School in Custer County, Nebraska and then graduated from Broken Bow High School with the class of 1941. Following his education, Jim began a lifelong career in sales. He was employed at Holyoke, Colorado for Good Tire and later in years covered a territory throughout Kansas and Oklahoma for Beales Tire Shops.

He was united in marriage to Carol Hircock and to this union four children were born: Mike, Terry, Dan and Susan. Jim was also self-employed for several years when he sold vehicle accessories.

On January 6, 1973 he was united in marriage to Lorraine Sprague at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege. With this marriage, Jim and Lorraine blended their two families together to be one for the next thirty-six years. During the years in Holdrege, Jim was employed as a Tire Salesman for Bowes Tire Company. Following his retirement, Jim enjoyed driving truck for several farmers during harvest and worked at Becton Dickinson as a night watchman.

Jim enjoyed fishing, hunting, had a special place in his heart for animals and loved to spend time with his family. He was a member of the Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege.

He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Lorraine of Holdrege; son, Mike Gracey of Holyoke, Colorado; daughter, Susan Davidson and her husband, Larry of Fremont, California; step-children: Mary Root and her husband, Earl of Holdrege, Gary Sprague and his wife, Jody of Ambler, Pennsylvania, Sue Long and her husband, Paul of Denver, Colorado, Carie Lynch and her husband, Dean of Holdrege and Amy Whittier and her husband, Erick of Lakewood, Colorado; 17 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; brother, Eddie Gracey and his wife, Kay of Bassett, Nebraska; sisters-in-law: JoAnn Gracey of Ainsworth, Nebraska and Evelyn Gracey of Arnold, Nebraska; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons: Terry and Dan Gracey; grandson, Curt Gracey; daughter-in-law, Paula Gracey; and five brothers: Dean, Robert, Ralph, George and Gene Gracey.

There will be no visitation.

A memorial has been established in his memory and will be designated at a later date.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.