"Greater Love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his family" ~John 15:13
Tracy Marie Fretz Parsons, 52, of Elizabethton, beloved wife, mother grandmother, sister, and
aunt was received into God's presence on Sunday, October 27, 2013 after she sacrificed her own life to save the lives of her daughter and grandson in a house fire.
Tracy was born on January 30th, 1961 in Medina, Ohio and had a great love of music and enjoyed playing her guitar; singing songs about her faith and walk with the Lord.
Family meant EVERYTHING to Tracy and Tracy meant EVERYTHING to her family.
She was preceded in death by her father, Dale Fretz; her mother, Audrey Coode and husband Bob and a precious nephew, Austin.
She will be deeply missed by her husband, Bill Parsons; children Rachel (Jared), Aaron (Heather), Esther, and Adam (Bethany); step-children, Stephanie (Eric) and Matt (Lisa).
She treasured every minute spent with her precious grandchildren, Caira, Caden, Bailey, Hayden, Andrew, Hanna, Gage, Aiden, Callie, Harper and Aubree. She is also survived by her two younger sisters, Lori and Lois (Mark); nephews, Luke and Avery; along with many loving cousins and countless friends.
The family will receive friends from 5 – 7 pm on Friday, November 1, 2013 at Carter-Trent Funeral Home, 520 Watauga Street, Kingsport. A Celebration of Tracy's life will follow at 7 pm with Rev. Dennis Wilson, Rev. Steven Tilley,
Pastor Randy Johnson, and Rev. Sheldon Livesay, officiating.
You may also view the service live by visiting www.cartertrent.com.
Graveside services will be held at 2 pm on Saturday, November 2, 2013 at Oak Hill Memorial Park, Kingsport, TN. Pallbearers will be Aaron Locke, Lorraine Marie, Lois
Callahan, Luke Gregory, Mark Callahan and Adam Parsons.
Family and friends are asked to meet at the funeral home at 1pm to go in a procession.
--------------------
Story From the Elizabethton Star:
Woman Died Trying to Save Daughter, Grandson from Fire
By Max Hrenda
Even though she may have known she was about to die, Tracy Parsons may have spent her last moments of life trying to make sure her daughter and grandson would survive.
The 52-year-old Elizabethton woman died Sunday morning after smoke from a kitchen fire filled her family's home at 1427 Riverview Drive. Her daughter, Esther Locke, 26, and her 4-year-old grandson, Aiden, managed to escape, possibly because of Tracy Parsons' efforts to warn them of the fire spreading outward from the kitchen.
Locke would later tell investigators she heard her mother pounding on her bedroom door, warning her and Aiden of danger.
Parsons' body was found only a few feet away from that door, where, authorities believe, she most likely died from smoke inhalation.
For Bill Parsons, Tracy's husband, it comes as no surprise that his wife, who he described Monday as "his best friend," would risk her life to save her family.
"Tracy died doing what she had done all her life, and that was taking care of her kids and grandkids," Bill Parsons said. "That was her one mission in life … and she saved Esther and Aiden's life."
Bill Parsons works as the advertising director for the Elizabethton Star. At the time of the fire, he was in Kingsport undergoing medical treatment.
"I'll regret this for the rest of my life that I wasn't there to help save her," he said. "I don't know what I could have done, but I would have tried."
Emergency responders say, however, that little could have been done to save Tracy Parsons once the smoke had filled the house. The first emergency crew on the scene was the Hampton/Valley Forge Volunteer Fire Department. By the time that crew arrived, around 9 a.m., Chief Johnny Isaacs said the smoke had become so thick that all visibility was gone.
Tracy Marie Fretz Parsons, 52, of Elizabethton, beloved wife, mother grandmother, sister, and
aunt was received into God's presence on Sunday, October 27, 2013 after she sacrificed her own life to save the lives of her daughter and grandson in a house fire.
Tracy was born on January 30th, 1961 in Medina, Ohio and had a great love of music and enjoyed playing her guitar; singing songs about her faith and walk with the Lord.
Family meant EVERYTHING to Tracy and Tracy meant EVERYTHING to her family.
She was preceded in death by her father, Dale Fretz; her mother, Audrey Coode and husband Bob and a precious nephew, Austin.
She will be deeply missed by her husband, Bill Parsons; children Rachel (Jared), Aaron (Heather), Esther, and Adam (Bethany); step-children, Stephanie (Eric) and Matt (Lisa).
She treasured every minute spent with her precious grandchildren, Caira, Caden, Bailey, Hayden, Andrew, Hanna, Gage, Aiden, Callie, Harper and Aubree. She is also survived by her two younger sisters, Lori and Lois (Mark); nephews, Luke and Avery; along with many loving cousins and countless friends.
The family will receive friends from 5 – 7 pm on Friday, November 1, 2013 at Carter-Trent Funeral Home, 520 Watauga Street, Kingsport. A Celebration of Tracy's life will follow at 7 pm with Rev. Dennis Wilson, Rev. Steven Tilley,
Pastor Randy Johnson, and Rev. Sheldon Livesay, officiating.
You may also view the service live by visiting www.cartertrent.com.
Graveside services will be held at 2 pm on Saturday, November 2, 2013 at Oak Hill Memorial Park, Kingsport, TN. Pallbearers will be Aaron Locke, Lorraine Marie, Lois
Callahan, Luke Gregory, Mark Callahan and Adam Parsons.
Family and friends are asked to meet at the funeral home at 1pm to go in a procession.
--------------------
Story From the Elizabethton Star:
Woman Died Trying to Save Daughter, Grandson from Fire
By Max Hrenda
Even though she may have known she was about to die, Tracy Parsons may have spent her last moments of life trying to make sure her daughter and grandson would survive.
The 52-year-old Elizabethton woman died Sunday morning after smoke from a kitchen fire filled her family's home at 1427 Riverview Drive. Her daughter, Esther Locke, 26, and her 4-year-old grandson, Aiden, managed to escape, possibly because of Tracy Parsons' efforts to warn them of the fire spreading outward from the kitchen.
Locke would later tell investigators she heard her mother pounding on her bedroom door, warning her and Aiden of danger.
Parsons' body was found only a few feet away from that door, where, authorities believe, she most likely died from smoke inhalation.
For Bill Parsons, Tracy's husband, it comes as no surprise that his wife, who he described Monday as "his best friend," would risk her life to save her family.
"Tracy died doing what she had done all her life, and that was taking care of her kids and grandkids," Bill Parsons said. "That was her one mission in life … and she saved Esther and Aiden's life."
Bill Parsons works as the advertising director for the Elizabethton Star. At the time of the fire, he was in Kingsport undergoing medical treatment.
"I'll regret this for the rest of my life that I wasn't there to help save her," he said. "I don't know what I could have done, but I would have tried."
Emergency responders say, however, that little could have been done to save Tracy Parsons once the smoke had filled the house. The first emergency crew on the scene was the Hampton/Valley Forge Volunteer Fire Department. By the time that crew arrived, around 9 a.m., Chief Johnny Isaacs said the smoke had become so thick that all visibility was gone.
"Greater Love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his family" ~John 15:13
Tracy Marie Fretz Parsons, 52, of Elizabethton, beloved wife, mother grandmother, sister, and
aunt was received into God's presence on Sunday, October 27, 2013 after she sacrificed her own life to save the lives of her daughter and grandson in a house fire.
Tracy was born on January 30th, 1961 in Medina, Ohio and had a great love of music and enjoyed playing her guitar; singing songs about her faith and walk with the Lord.
Family meant EVERYTHING to Tracy and Tracy meant EVERYTHING to her family.
She was preceded in death by her father, Dale Fretz; her mother, Audrey Coode and husband Bob and a precious nephew, Austin.
She will be deeply missed by her husband, Bill Parsons; children Rachel (Jared), Aaron (Heather), Esther, and Adam (Bethany); step-children, Stephanie (Eric) and Matt (Lisa).
She treasured every minute spent with her precious grandchildren, Caira, Caden, Bailey, Hayden, Andrew, Hanna, Gage, Aiden, Callie, Harper and Aubree. She is also survived by her two younger sisters, Lori and Lois (Mark); nephews, Luke and Avery; along with many loving cousins and countless friends.
The family will receive friends from 5 – 7 pm on Friday, November 1, 2013 at Carter-Trent Funeral Home, 520 Watauga Street, Kingsport. A Celebration of Tracy's life will follow at 7 pm with Rev. Dennis Wilson, Rev. Steven Tilley,
Pastor Randy Johnson, and Rev. Sheldon Livesay, officiating.
You may also view the service live by visiting www.cartertrent.com.
Graveside services will be held at 2 pm on Saturday, November 2, 2013 at Oak Hill Memorial Park, Kingsport, TN. Pallbearers will be Aaron Locke, Lorraine Marie, Lois
Callahan, Luke Gregory, Mark Callahan and Adam Parsons.
Family and friends are asked to meet at the funeral home at 1pm to go in a procession.
--------------------
Story From the Elizabethton Star:
Woman Died Trying to Save Daughter, Grandson from Fire
By Max Hrenda
Even though she may have known she was about to die, Tracy Parsons may have spent her last moments of life trying to make sure her daughter and grandson would survive.
The 52-year-old Elizabethton woman died Sunday morning after smoke from a kitchen fire filled her family's home at 1427 Riverview Drive. Her daughter, Esther Locke, 26, and her 4-year-old grandson, Aiden, managed to escape, possibly because of Tracy Parsons' efforts to warn them of the fire spreading outward from the kitchen.
Locke would later tell investigators she heard her mother pounding on her bedroom door, warning her and Aiden of danger.
Parsons' body was found only a few feet away from that door, where, authorities believe, she most likely died from smoke inhalation.
For Bill Parsons, Tracy's husband, it comes as no surprise that his wife, who he described Monday as "his best friend," would risk her life to save her family.
"Tracy died doing what she had done all her life, and that was taking care of her kids and grandkids," Bill Parsons said. "That was her one mission in life … and she saved Esther and Aiden's life."
Bill Parsons works as the advertising director for the Elizabethton Star. At the time of the fire, he was in Kingsport undergoing medical treatment.
"I'll regret this for the rest of my life that I wasn't there to help save her," he said. "I don't know what I could have done, but I would have tried."
Emergency responders say, however, that little could have been done to save Tracy Parsons once the smoke had filled the house. The first emergency crew on the scene was the Hampton/Valley Forge Volunteer Fire Department. By the time that crew arrived, around 9 a.m., Chief Johnny Isaacs said the smoke had become so thick that all visibility was gone.
Tracy Marie Fretz Parsons, 52, of Elizabethton, beloved wife, mother grandmother, sister, and
aunt was received into God's presence on Sunday, October 27, 2013 after she sacrificed her own life to save the lives of her daughter and grandson in a house fire.
Tracy was born on January 30th, 1961 in Medina, Ohio and had a great love of music and enjoyed playing her guitar; singing songs about her faith and walk with the Lord.
Family meant EVERYTHING to Tracy and Tracy meant EVERYTHING to her family.
She was preceded in death by her father, Dale Fretz; her mother, Audrey Coode and husband Bob and a precious nephew, Austin.
She will be deeply missed by her husband, Bill Parsons; children Rachel (Jared), Aaron (Heather), Esther, and Adam (Bethany); step-children, Stephanie (Eric) and Matt (Lisa).
She treasured every minute spent with her precious grandchildren, Caira, Caden, Bailey, Hayden, Andrew, Hanna, Gage, Aiden, Callie, Harper and Aubree. She is also survived by her two younger sisters, Lori and Lois (Mark); nephews, Luke and Avery; along with many loving cousins and countless friends.
The family will receive friends from 5 – 7 pm on Friday, November 1, 2013 at Carter-Trent Funeral Home, 520 Watauga Street, Kingsport. A Celebration of Tracy's life will follow at 7 pm with Rev. Dennis Wilson, Rev. Steven Tilley,
Pastor Randy Johnson, and Rev. Sheldon Livesay, officiating.
You may also view the service live by visiting www.cartertrent.com.
Graveside services will be held at 2 pm on Saturday, November 2, 2013 at Oak Hill Memorial Park, Kingsport, TN. Pallbearers will be Aaron Locke, Lorraine Marie, Lois
Callahan, Luke Gregory, Mark Callahan and Adam Parsons.
Family and friends are asked to meet at the funeral home at 1pm to go in a procession.
--------------------
Story From the Elizabethton Star:
Woman Died Trying to Save Daughter, Grandson from Fire
By Max Hrenda
Even though she may have known she was about to die, Tracy Parsons may have spent her last moments of life trying to make sure her daughter and grandson would survive.
The 52-year-old Elizabethton woman died Sunday morning after smoke from a kitchen fire filled her family's home at 1427 Riverview Drive. Her daughter, Esther Locke, 26, and her 4-year-old grandson, Aiden, managed to escape, possibly because of Tracy Parsons' efforts to warn them of the fire spreading outward from the kitchen.
Locke would later tell investigators she heard her mother pounding on her bedroom door, warning her and Aiden of danger.
Parsons' body was found only a few feet away from that door, where, authorities believe, she most likely died from smoke inhalation.
For Bill Parsons, Tracy's husband, it comes as no surprise that his wife, who he described Monday as "his best friend," would risk her life to save her family.
"Tracy died doing what she had done all her life, and that was taking care of her kids and grandkids," Bill Parsons said. "That was her one mission in life … and she saved Esther and Aiden's life."
Bill Parsons works as the advertising director for the Elizabethton Star. At the time of the fire, he was in Kingsport undergoing medical treatment.
"I'll regret this for the rest of my life that I wasn't there to help save her," he said. "I don't know what I could have done, but I would have tried."
Emergency responders say, however, that little could have been done to save Tracy Parsons once the smoke had filled the house. The first emergency crew on the scene was the Hampton/Valley Forge Volunteer Fire Department. By the time that crew arrived, around 9 a.m., Chief Johnny Isaacs said the smoke had become so thick that all visibility was gone.
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