Tracy (Callihan) Williams

On Wednesday, November 4, 2020, Tracy Callihan Williams of Morehead, Kentucky, loving and devoted mother, daughter, sister, friend and servant, passed away at the age of 55.

Tracy was born on July 18, 1965 in Ashland, Kentucky to Bill and Jackie (Kerns) Callihan. She attended West Carter High School and Morehead State University. She was proud to be an Eagle and instilled that pride in her children. Tracy was proud to have grown up in Olive Hill and to have raised her children in Rowan County.

It has been said that if serving is beneath you, leadership is beyond you. Tracy was a devoted community servant. She worked tirelessly as the Executive Director for the Morehead Rowan County Chamber of Commerce to benefit the citizens of the community and beyond, often without thanks and most of the time behind the scenes. There are people in communities that take center stage that always seem to find a way to find the limelight. This was never Tracy. Whether she was cooking and dishing up a holiday meal at the Carl Perkins Center or hauling chairs and supplies to a picnic in the back of her truck, she was never looking for the credit. She was looking to make the world a better place and always searching to serve.

Tracy served on the Board of Directors of Christian Social Services, worked with the Gateway Homeless Coalition, the MSU President’s Diversity Council, the regional advisory board of God’s Pantry, was a member of the Morehead Utility Plant Board and the advisory board of Maysville and Community and Technical College. She was most proud of her work with God’s Pantry, the recent expansion of MCTC, Say Boo to Drugs, Veteran’s Park, and the leadership classes at Rowan County Senior High School where she would remind each class to “make good choices.”

She was the recipient of the Chamber of Commerce “Service Above Self” Award, fittingly. She was a member of the First Christian Church of Morehead, Morehead Woman’s Club and Eastern Star. She was most recently employed as a branch office administrator for Edward Jones.

She is survived by her parents; her adoring children, Andrew (Abbey) and Hannah; her brother Jarrod Wylie (Lara Bell) of Bangkok, Thailand; and the love of her life Michael D. Smith. She is also survived by her “angels,” Judi James and Jane Click. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Bethel Elmer & Ida Mae Callihan and Beatrice Abbott and Paul & Lillian Abbott; and one brother, William (Billy) Keith Callihan. She leaves behind a host of family (Callihan, Williams and Smith), friends and those whose lives she touched. Her true loves were God, family, and community.

Visitation will be held between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2020, at Northcutt & Son Home for Funerals, 400 Fraley Drive, Morehead, KY 40351. Masks are required and social distancing will be observed.

A private funeral service will be held at the United Methodist Church in Olive Hill. In lieu of flowers, love offerings in Tracy’s memory may be made at or sent to The Citizens Bank, c/o Kris Alderman, 114 West Main Street, Morehead, KY 40351.  

A great soul serves everyone all the time. A great soul never dies. It brings us together again and again. – Maya Angelou

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