Obituary of Tracey Nannette Deits

Tracey (Buttons) Nannette Deits, daughter of (Genny) Kathleen Jeannette Rogerson, passed away at the age of 53 on Thursday, October 12, 2023 at Portland Adventist Hospital due to complications from pneumonia. 

Although Tracey had suffered from Spina Bifida since birth, she always had a smile for everyone she was around.  She showed all of us that the simple things in life can bring joy to life each and every day. Tracey’s best friend was her radio because she loved listening to music. Her dad played a Country Concert at Morning Star Church in Salem, Oregon.  Everyone told him the best part of the night was watching Tracey rocking to the music.  Tracey loved to travel and knew she was flying somewhere when she saw the airport sign on the freeway.  She would get so excited no matter the time of day or night we had to travel to the airport.  She loved cruises and visiting different places and we were able to actually celebrate two of her birthdays while on a cruise.  Going for rides in the car and eating out was a joy for Tracey and she never left a restaurant without a spoon on her lap.  We will have wind chimes made from the 85 spoons Tracey collected over the years. Tracey found joy in so many things as simple as a balloon, the bright lights at Christmas, being in a swimming pool where she was free from her wheelchair and just being a part of a family gathering.   

Doctors had stated that because of the severity of her Spina Bifida Tracey would be fortunate to live to age ten.  Tracey proved the doctors wrong.  Over the years through all of the surgeries and illnesses that she fought and recovered from, Tracey loved life and found joy in each and every day.   Tracey loved being with her family and was always included in all the family activities so she never felt excluded because of her disability.     

Tracey attended special education through high school receiving her diploma in 1991 in The Dalles, Oregon.  She loved attending school anxiously waiting for the yellow school bus every morning.  Tracey was loved by her classmates and teachers and when she received her diploma, the entire class stood up and cheered.  Tracey enjoyed participating in Special Olympics in the wheel chair races.  When Tracey won first place she looked so happy in the picture The Dalles Chronicle Newspaper took of her with her trophy with Ronald McDonald beside her.  She absolutely loved being on the asphalt track at the high school because it gave her the freedom to wheel herself as fast as she wanted to go.

Tracey touched this earth with her gentle spirit and loving heart.  She was truly a precious gift from God.  As her mom, I often thought she saw angels when she would softly smile in her darkest times in the hospital touching every doctor and nurse with her courage.

Tracey is survived by her mother (Genny) Kathleen Jeannette Rogerson; sisters Kayla Rogerson, Stacey Alexander,  Alexia Banks, Jeanneil Rogerson; brothers Jim Roethlin,  Wade Rogerson (wife Samantha), Kristofer Rogerson (wife Brianne), Caitlin Scantlin; and many Aunts, Uncles and cousins.

Tracey was preceded in death by her loving Grandfather Wilburn Sloan and Grandmother Kathleen Sloan,  A. Neil Rogerson loving father to Tracey and husband to (Genny)  Kathleen Jeannette Rogerson.

There will be a Celebration of Life  for Tracey in the Spring which was her favorite time of the year.