Tracey Beckman's Obituary
Tracey Beckman — A Life Well Lived
Tracey Beckman lived a life defined by love, generosity, faith, and the rare ability to make everyone around her feel like family.
Tracey passed away on March 7, 2026, after nearly two years of courageously battling glioblastoma. While the disease challenged her body, it never diminished her spirit, her warmth, or the deep love she had for the people around her.
She was born on November 24, 1953, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to William and Shirley Smith, who preceded her in death.
For nearly 49 years, Tracey shared a remarkable life with her husband, David Beckman. Together they built a marriage filled with love, faith, laughter, and adventure — a partnership that became the heart of their family and the example their children and grandchildren will carry forward.
Tracey was the proud mother of Adam, Aryn Kavanaugh, and TK Dana. One of her greatest joys in life was being “Grandma” to her nine grandchildren: Bailey, AJ, Drew, Parker, Tyler, Brayden, Grey, Maverick, and Harper. She loved them endlessly and never missed an opportunity to spoil them, cheer them on, or wrap them in one of her famous hugs.
Tracey loved the world and spent much of her life exploring it. Whether traveling for adventure or serving others through mission work, she had a heart that naturally looked outward. She made friends everywhere she went and had a special gift for making people feel welcomed and valued.
Her faith was the foundation of her life. Tracey loved Jesus deeply and lived out that faith in the way she loved, served and cared for others. She was passionate about Crossroads and poured her heart into helping it grow in Columbus—not just in numbers, but in spirit, community and impact. She worked tirelessly to make that vision a reality,
At home, Tracey was a master quilter. Her quilts were more than beautiful creations — they were pieces of love stitched together one square at a time. Many people are lucky enough to have one, and each one carries a little bit of Tracey with it.
She loved entertaining friends and family and had a way of turning ordinary evenings into unforgettable gatherings. Some of her happiest moments were the simplest ones — sitting on the patio surrounded by the people she loved, enjoying conversation, laughter, and a good glass of wine.
Tracey’s life was not measured simply in years, but in the love she gave, the people she gathered, the quilts she stitched, and the lives she touched along the way.
She will be deeply missed, forever loved, and always remembered.
The family would like to express our heartfelt thanks to her medical and hospice teams for their exceptional care, dedication and compassion.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Tracey’s memory to:
The Glioblastoma Research Organization: https://gbmresearch.org — Advances research and brings hope to others fighting this disease.
Amigos for Christ: https://amigosforchrist.org — Improves health, education, and economic development in rural Nicaraguan communities.
Crossroads Church: https://crossroads.net/give
What’s your fondest memory of Tracey?
What’s a lesson you learned from Tracey?
Share a story where Tracey's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Tracey you’ll never forget.
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