Friday, March 14, 2025
My Brother, Terry Tracey
Terry had a challenging start in life. As a young boy, he developed a fever that left him with a learning disability. He attended special education classes in Lovilia and later in Albia, Iowa. Like many with disabilities, Terry sometimes faced unkindness from others, both children and adults. Fortunately, he was surrounded by a large and loving family who stood by him.
At the age of 13, Terry was sent to Glenwood State School after being accused of stealing. The city of Lovilia gave my parents an impossible choice: send him to jail or to Glenwood. They chose Glenwood, where Terry had a cousin. Terry rarely spoke about his time there, but when he did, it was clear he hated it. He told me of being isolated in a room as punishment and that they didn’t teach him how to read or write. Instead, they had him picking up garbage as “training.”
When Terry turned 18, he was allowed to return home. My parents were told he could be released from Glenwood if he secured a job. With the help of our sister Mary Lou, Terry got a job washing dishes at Pizza Hut. He worked as a dishwasher for most of his life and genuinely enjoyed it, despite earning only modest wages.
Terry lived with our parents, who supported him wholeheartedly, until their passing. Before my father died, he asked me to look after my brothers, and I promised I would. In 2005, when my mother passed away, my husband and I moved into my parents’ home in Monroe, Iowa, until we purchased a house in Newton. Terry joined us in Newton during that time.
After the Udder Steakhouse in Knoxville closed, Terry found a job washing dishes at Midtown Café in Newton. Though he wasn’t the fastest dishwasher, he loved his work and the camaraderie it brought. He continued there until retiring in 2020.
Terry also earned extra money by collecting soda cans and bottles. He became a familiar sight around Newton, riding his bike with sacks of recyclables. Many people in town saved cans for him, often dropping them off at his home or giving them to him when they saw him. Terry was careful with his money, preferring secondhand clothes and rarely buying new items, even when I encouraged him to.
He loved the freedom of riding his bike and meeting new people. Wherever he went, whether it was Hy-Vee or Fareway, people greeted him warmly with hugs or handshakes—everyone was an “old buddy” to Terry.
In 2018, Terry moved into an apartment at Linden Place (formerly the McCann Center). I was initially hesitant about this transition, but it turned out to be a wonderful decision. Terry thrived in this new community, surrounded by kind and friendly neighbors. He loved being around people.
In 2024, I noticed changes in Terry. Friends at Linden Place told me he seemed to need more help. I observed that he had grown quiet, spending more time in his room. He also began choking frequently while eating or drinking. Concerned, I sought medical advice. We saw an orthopedic doctor about his neck, which had begun to tilt forward. He referred us to a neurologist, who suspected ALS during the first visit. Further tests confirmed the diagnosis, and we were referred to the ALS Clinic for specialized care.
The clinic explained that ALS could progress slowly or quickly but advised against him living alone. Though Terry understood he had a disease, I don’t think he realized how severe it could become. He was resistant to moving, so my husband and I did our best to support him at his apartment, cleaning his room and helping as much as we could. However, after just a few weeks, it became clear he needed more care. With help, Terry was placed in a nursing home.
Terry was in the nursing home for just over four months when his heart stopped on March 9, 2025. ALS weakens the body’s muscles and lungs, and when Terry caught the flu, it further compromised his already fragile health. While losing him so quickly was devastating, I’m grateful he was spared the worst stages of the disease. He never lost his ability to walk, talk, or eat, which is often the case with ALS.
Terry rarely complained. No matter how he was feeling, he would always say he was “OK.” It’s hard to capture an entire life in words, but Terry was a kind, gentle soul who left a lasting impression on everyone he met. I loved him deeply and will miss him more than words can express.
Barbara Tracey Jones
