Obituary of Tracie Sloper

On Friday, December 23rd, 2011 at noon, a funeral mass will be celebrated for Tracie Sloper, at St. Leo's Catholic Church in Tacoma, WA. (710 South 13th Street Tacoma, WA 98405-4496 (253) 272-5136). Tracie passed away at home in Olympia, WA, on Monday, December 12, 2011. After the funeral, family and friends will gather to celebrate Tracie's life at the home of Clare Petrich in Tacoma, Wa. Tracie's life and loves - Tracie Sloper was born in Austin, Texas at St. David's hospital on March 27th, 1967. She loved flowers, ice skating, drawing and writing stories, her many friends, her grandmothers Anne and Jean and Dee and her Grandfather Martin and all her cousins. As an elementary and high school student, Tracie trained in competitive Ice Skating in Austin and at Lakewood Ice Arena near Tacoma. Tracie graduated from Austin High School, and was admitted to the honors program at Seattle University, attended University of Washington and graduated from Western Washington University Huxley School in Environmental Studies. Tracie attended graduate courses at Evergreen University in pursuit of a Master's Degree in Environmental Policy and Assessment. She interned for a time at DNR (Department of Natural Resources) in Olympia WA, and at KCTS9 (working on the documentary film, Green Plans, produced by John Digraph). As a college student Tracie lived two summers in Kodiak, AK where she worked in canneries in both Kodiak and Larson Bay. The preservation of our natural environment, and ice-skating were two of Tracie's great loves. In addition she was an accomplished photographer, and a collector of rare books and popular literature. She loved contemporary music, especially the ever-popular group U2. Tracie was also extremely proud of the deep roots of her East Coast family on her paternal side. Dating from the days of the American Revolution, the Sloper family contributed to the early development of industry and banking of the early United States and this was a point of great pride for Tracie. She was also dedicated to her West Coast Petrich family and the rich history of boat building in the early 1900's and Western Boat, founded by her great grandfather. She loved family history. As an adult, Tracie battled a particularly difficult bipolar disorder for many years, that impacted her emotions and thoughts. She was dedicated to her education and she completed her BA and entered graduate school. In addition, she managed to live independently and share her warm and sincere interest in her friends and acquaintances, maintain her spirited soul, her sense of humor, and her fierce commitment to her goals and values. Her family is extremely grateful for the care she received from the CAST team at BHR (Behavioral Health Resources) in Olympia WA, where she most recently lived. Old friends and family members remember Tracie especially for her sense of humor and great love of children, the depth of her compassion and acceptance of others, her unbelievable determination, and her beloved kitty cats; Tracie was particularly gifted in math, languages, art, creative writing, and photography. Tracie is survived by her mother, Ann Petrich Sloper of Seattle, WA and her father, Robert (Bob) Sloper, currently of Denver, CO., and many dearly loved aunts and uncles, cousins, and, friends who she cared for and remembered fondly, both in the Puget Sound Region, and from her school days in Austin. Most recently Tracie lived in Olympia in hopes of continuing her graduate studies at Evergreen University. Her great friend and cousin, Allen Petrich, Jr of Olympia, WA, will plant a tree in her honor at Evergreen, in the springtime near her 44th birthday. ********************************************************* Condolences can be left here or at the website of Edwards Memorial (edwardsmemorial.com/) in University Place, WA. Family members ask that donations in Tracie's memory be made to NAMI-Greater Seattle, 802 NW 70th St Seattle, WA 98117 (206) 783-9264 A non-profit alliance on Mental Illness, that provides family and peer training programs, legislative advocacy, support groups and information on the many types of mood and cognitive disorders that seriously impact so many among our friends and family. NAMI is a tireless advocate for the eradication of stigma for those with these perceptual, thought and mood disorders, and their acceptance as serious illnesses with biological as well as psychological roots, that must be supported by continued protection of positive legislation, and maintenance of important state and local community programs that honor our talented and creative community members dealing with these huge problems. Family members also encourage family and friends of Tracie to be ever vigilant concerning the ravages and power of addiction and the importance of early detection and education concerning the use of addictive substances as self-medication for troubles stemming for unrecognized and untreated mental illnesses.