Passed away at the young age of 49.

On August 14, 2018, Traci went to be with the angels, with her loving family and several close friends at her bedside.

Traci was born Nov. 19, 1968, to the parents of Thomas Leonard Dodson and Tynnese Alice Dodson (Alloway).

Traci married the love of her life, Michael Scott Simmons, on April 16, 1992. They were married 26 years. They knew each other as children and started dating in their late teens.

Traci is survived by her daughters:

• Brittany Simmons (Greg Daniels)
• Amanda Garza (Mathew Garza)
• Crystal Stapes (Marcus Stapes)
  
• Mother: Tynnese Alice Alloway
• Grandchildren: LillyAnn, Jaymz, Sydnee, Damien, Tyson, Audri, Taya (Alexis), Tray and Austyn.
• Siblings: Jimmy Arnold (Lori Arnold). Tammie Marsh (LeRoy Marsh), Richard Alloway (Jody Alloway)
  

Numerous extended family and friends, too many to mention, but whom she loved, were a very important part of her life.

Traci was born and raised in Eureka, where she attended Cutten Elementary, Winship Jr. High and Eureka Senior High School, where she was a member of the Loggerette drill team. Those memories were among her fondest all of her school years.

Traci later went for schooling as a bookkeeper, where she graduated as class valedictorian. She also earned her certificate as a pharmacy technician.

Traci grew up helping her aunt Benita “Benny” Berke in her restaurant. At only 12 years old she started by washed dishes, and learned how to wait tables shortly thereafter when the waitress did not show up one day. Over time, Benny taught Traci how to cook and manage a restaurant. When she was 16 she managed the restaurant at the Vista Del Mar on weekends for her father. Traci was rightly proud of these accomplishments.

She worked in many different restaurants throughout her life, and ended up as a manager in many of them.

Traci moved to Woodland to be closer to her mother. During that time Traci became the president of the Emblem Club which she enjoyed.

Traci had a passion for donating blood, primarily because she had a rare blood type. Her blood could be given to premature babies and infants, only 8 percent of all people have this blood type. She found this out while donating blood with the Emblem Club. She continued donating blood thru the rest of her life. When she moved back to Eureka, Traci and her daughter Amanda would go together to donate blood, whenever the local blood bank was open for donations.

Traci loved camping, fishing, collecting glass fish and attending her grandchildren’s sporting events. She enjoyed spending as much time as possible with her grandchildren. and the rest of her family.

Traci was fun, loving, funny, loyal, compassionate, nonjudgmental, down to earth. To know Traci was to love her.

There will be a celebration of life Saturday, September 22, 2018 from 2-4 p.m. at the Fortuna Firehouse Hall, 320 South Fortuna Blvd., Fortuna, Ca. 95540

Tracy stated that all of her friends and family were good cooks, so we are making this a potluck.

Special thanks, and our gratitude goes to St. Joseph Hospital ICU staff for taking wonderful care of Traci and her family.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Traci Simmons’ family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.