Tracy Thomas Deckard, 56, of Mt. Carmel, IL passed away peacefully at his residence on May 3, 2025, following a 7-year battle with cancer.
Visitation for Tracy will be Saturday, May 10, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. followed by a celebration of life service at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel of Short-Cunningham Funeral Home, 527 N. Mulberry Street, Mt. Carmel, Illinois.
Memorial contributions may be made in Tracy’s memory to Short-Cunningham Funeral Home to assist with funeral expenses. Envelopes will be available at the visitation or can be mailed to Short-Cunningham Funeral Home, P.O. Box 397, Mt. Carmel, IL 62863.
He was born on May 10, 1968, in Wabash County, Illinois, son of Thomas Esco Deckard and Diana Kay Turner.
Tracy graduated from Mt. Carmel High School in 1986 and studied drafting at Vincennes University.
On September 10, 2013, he married Sherri A. Eplin in Grand River, Kentucky and together they enjoyed 11 years of marriage.
He was a crane operator and graphics designer at Young Sign Company in Leavenworth, Kansas before moving back to the area and opening his own business. Tracy and Sherri owned and operated The Finish Line auto detailing shop for approximately 8 years, where he also designed custom vinyl graphics.
Tracy always had a passion for cars and at the young age of 16, he restored his first car, a 1975 Gremlin. His last endeavor was restoring a 1980 Trans Am Indy 500 Pace Car and in the last few years, he enjoyed building and customizing models of cars he had previously owned.
He played football at Mt. Carmel High School and was a huge Kansas City Chiefs fan.
He also enjoyed flying remote control airplanes and was President of the Prop Dusters Club. He was a “Jack of All Trades” and through different careers and life experiences, he had learned how to fix just about anything. He loved vacations at the beach, camping and trips to Southern Illinois to Garden of the Gods.
Tracy is of the Christian faith, part of the family of God.
Tracy leaves behind his wife, Sherri; mother, Diana Kay Turner; brother, Bernie L. Deckard; daughters Cara Lynn Wells and Bethany Ann Deckard; stepsons, Phillip Beyes and David Beyes; grandchildren, Aaron Deckard, Kade Deckard, Sunny Wells and Kellin Wells; step-grandchildren Raelynn Burman, Leo Beyes and P. J. Beyes; and several aunts and uncles.
He was preceded in death by his father, Thomas E. Deckard.
Condolences may be made online at www.short-cunninghamfh.com
Short Funeral Home is honored to serve the Deckard family.
