John Austin "Joe" Tracy Mr.

John (Joe) Austin Tracy was born on June 27, 1942 in Rochester, New York and died on March 26, 2016 in Lawrenceville, Georgia. He met his loving wife, Donna in Atlanta and they married on October 30, 2004 on the beautiful island of St. Lucia. Joe was pre-deceased by his mother, Elizabeth Ashley Stephens and his father, John Woodrow Tracy. In addition to his wife, Donna, Joe is survived by his two sisters, Jeanette (Bill) Miller of Woodstock, GA and Beverly (Jimmy, deceased) Flynt of Niceville FL, son, Eric John Tracy of Canton, GA, step daughter, Elizabeth Michele Phillips of Duluth, step son, Christopher Yearian of Atlanta, granddaughter, Erica Tracy of Statesboro, niece, Cathy (Brian) Batterton of Marietta, nephews, Chris (Charity) Miller of Holly Springs, GA., Patrick Flynt of Niceville, FL and Michael (Laura) Flynt of Granite Bay, CA. At age eighteen, Joe enlisted in the United States Air Force serving as a flight medic at Aviano Air Base, Italy. His adventures in Europe during this period of his life made for many lively tales. Following his honorable discharge from the Air Force, he returned to the Atlanta area and started his own retail service station business, owning and operating several stations in Atlanta and working as a skilled auto mechanic. He retired in 2006 and kept busy with his gardening, watching Georgia Bulldog football, Nascar Races and travelling worldwide with his wife and siblings. Joe tended to his garden and his backyard flora like he tended to his family, with love, tenderness and generosity, never failing to produce an abundance of summer vegetables for distribution to friends and family. Joe had hundreds of long-time friends who loved his quick wit, his humor, and his loyalty. He leaves behind a legacy of patriotism, honor, traditional values, and love of Country. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 2, 2016 at 1:00 P.M. at Wages & Sons Gwinnett Chapel. The family will receive friends on Saturday from 11:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. at Wages & Sons Gwinnett Chapel, 1031 Lawrenceville Highway, Lawrenceville, 770-277-4550. Online condolences may be expressed at www.wagesandsons.com.