Tracia Fernkas

Tracia "Tracey" Ellen Montgomery Fernkas Died unexpectedly on January 19, 2015, at the age of 48. She was born on October 6, 1966, in Abington, PA, to Margaret Cheesman Fernkas-Silvey and John Kearney Montgomery, and later adopted by J. Richard Fernkas. In her youth, she was selected for the gifted program at IPS School 80 and was a competitive volleyball and basketball player at Clay Junior High School (and on her family's backyard court). Despite her disdain for high school, she began to develop her strong writing skills through her contributions to an alternative publication, the Carmel Zine, sang in the choir and was a member of the National Honor Society. Following her graduation from Carmel High School, she attended Indiana University (IU) where she was a resident of the Collins Living-Learning Center. At IU, she discovered her love of art and literature. She shared her creative expression through painting and poetry, and applied her keen intellect toward earning her B.A. in English literature. Following college, as a talented wordsmith, she put her abilities to task in marketing and event planning for a number of firms, working as a marketing and communications manager at University Loft, where she was recognized as Corporate Employee of the Year in 2001, and recognized for Special Projects/Media in 2002. She continued her career in marketing at Irwin Union Bank and The College Network. Overall, she was a dedicated and hard-working employee who demonstrated much integrity and creativity in her work. Outside of work, she also was generous with her time and talents, volunteering for many activities to promote the Irvington community, such as coordinating logistics of the Historic Irvington Halloween Festival and the Miss Irvington Scholarship Pageant. In honor of her many contributions, a new award will be established – the Tracia Fernkas Directors Award - for the young woman who best demonstrates the attributes of Irvington. She was well loved by her family and friends. A colorful woman with a clever and quick wit and a real attitude, she regaled us all with her wonderful stories that could turn a routine trip to the grocery store into an hilarious episode. She loved music and had an ear for identifying emerging bands. She exhibited her own sense of style that was classic with an urban edge. With her big heart and sweet nature, she was a loyal friend, sister, aunt, cousin, and daughter who will be sorely missed. Tracia is survived by her mother, Margaret Fernkas-Silvey and stepfather Tom Silvey, her four siblings, Andra Fernkas Walters (Mark), Mark Fernkas, Eric Fernkas (Ann), and Robin Fernkas (Rodges Ankrah), two step-siblings, Lori (Silvey) McAlister, Greg Silvey (LeeAnn), her nieces and nephews, Laura Walters, Lyndsay Gilman (Jon), Lydia Walters, Sara Fernkas, John Fernkas, Elisha Helgen and Aidan Ankrah, her uncles Bill Cheesman (Carol), Bob Cheesman, Ron Montgomery, the late Ken Montgomery (Angie), her aunt Ginny Montgomery Langton, many cousins, and her beloved furry companions, Gibson, Gracie and Sebastian. Predeceased by her fathers, John Kearney Montgomery and J. Richard Fernkas, and her grandparents Marjorie and Robert Cheesman, Irene and Jack Montgomery. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the J. Richard Fernkas Scholarship Fund at Butler University and the Indianapolis Humane Society.