Obituary

Tracy Kyle (1965 – 2010)

 

Tracy was a wonderful parent to Nick and Josie, and loved partner to Dennis. An involved member of the local community, she was a loyal friend and provided special 'counsel' - wise and intuitive, non-judgmental and very funny - she made us laugh lots!

 

Tracy's impish, perky grin and fierce drive said it all. It was Tracy who began calling our new Waitati Edible Gardening group 'the Weggies' – and suggested a particularly uncomfortable membership greeting as well! Vital and vibrant, full of life and laughter, intelligent and wise, kind, caring and compassionate, Tracy loved life and lived it to the full. 

 

Tracy attended Warrington Taekwando with Nick and Josie. She earned the respect of Senior Black Belts through her application and dedication, and of the juniors for her compassionate yet firm and precise pedagogy, always with a smile or laugh. Naturally, she earned her black belt, and earned the respect of New Zealand's Taekwando fraternity in the process.

 

She had a natural grace and style no matter the situation, whether socialising, or at work, and especially in gumboots on the farm. Tracy's cancer was virulent and unrelenting. In the ten months between diagnosis and her death she continued to go into work and shared the management of their home building project. She came to Weggie markets, attended friends' parties and threw her own big birthday party with flair.

 

Tracy loved her family so much. Her pride in her children was clear for all to see, and when the Kyle's hosted an Edible Garden Tour Tracy couldn't help but entertain visitors with stories of Dennis' garden exploits, all the while claiming that her job was only to survey it all, glass of chardonnay in hand.

 

Of course she was angry that she was dying, and angry she wouldn't be there to care for and support her family, to share in their successes and their failures, or to see the new house completed. But she was also astonishingly upbeat with those around her, even in her last days, such as advising a friend on how to deal with a dickey heart, while all the while battling herself. Tracy thought of others first.

 

As a successful businesswoman, with her business partner, she built a flourishing nursing business. She loved her work and the opportunities it gave her to use all her wonderful qualities and to make people's lives a bit better, a bit brighter. A Southland girl, who loved fishing, worked in town and lived in Blueskin Bay, Tracy had great friends around the country. Her nursing friends have many, many stories about Tracy during her nursing training.

 

Dennis talks about Tracy's passion for catching salmon off the treacherous 'Pudding Stone' on the peninsula, and of the privilege of nursing his partner and best friend. We all carry great memories of her in our lives, and she is strong in our thoughts. 

 

Our thoughts and best wishes are with Dennis, Nick and Josie.