Tracy Bartlett
Tracy Bartlett passed away May 19th. He was one of the finest people i have ever known, and the world is a lesser place without him.
http://www.kxly.com/global/story.asp?s=10391628
Friends, family mourn 'Mini-Donut Man's' passing
Posted: May 19, 2009 4:27 PM PDT
SPOKANE -- For years there has been a friendly smile, a kind word and an occasional mini-donut for people walking through Riverfront Park. This summer the person behind that smile won't return to the park.
Tracy Bartlett, known to many simply as the mini-donut man, passed away Monday from complications of a rare disease. His friends and family could not bring themselves to open his donut stand in Riverfront Park Tuesday but they said owning those stands was his childhood dream and running them was his life's passion.
A few months ago Bartlett was hospitalized with brain encephalitis. His family thought he was getting better but his condition started to go downhill.
"It just went worse and he had strokes, mini strokes," Tracy's mom Dot Clark said.
Those strokes put Tracy on a ventilator and feeding tube and finally on Monday the doctor gave Tracy's mom some very bad news.
"That he had quite a few of them and he didn't know how many and he would never be Tracy again and so we decided to let him go," Dot said.
Sitting with Dot Clark Tuesday was a man called Crazy, Tracy's friend and longtime employee. Tracy and Crazy met in Riverfront Park nine years ago and at the time crazy was homeless.
"He told his mom he says you got to meet him he is the cleanest homeless person you've ever met," Crazy said.
At first Tracy found odd jobs for Crazy; they later became close friends.
"He was my best friend out of my whole life he was the only true friend I have ever had," Crazy said.
For the past three years Crazy has been working by Tracy's side, running the five mini-donut stands in the area
"The donuts was his biggest thing, he could fling from here to the other side of the street and get them right in your hand while you were walking," Crazy said.
The kindness Tracy showed Cazy is how his friends and family say he lived his life, spreading joy one mini donut at a time
"He gave more than he ever received," Crazy said. "He is one of the greatest people in this town."
Tracy's friends and family are hosting a celebration of his life in Riverfront Park on May 31st at 2 p.m. in the gazebo behind the butterfly.
The other thing they say you can do to celebrate his life are to continue enjoying Tracy's mini-donuts.
http://www.kxly.com/global/story.asp?s=10391628
Friends, family mourn 'Mini-Donut Man's' passing
Posted: May 19, 2009 4:27 PM PDT
SPOKANE -- For years there has been a friendly smile, a kind word and an occasional mini-donut for people walking through Riverfront Park. This summer the person behind that smile won't return to the park.
Tracy Bartlett, known to many simply as the mini-donut man, passed away Monday from complications of a rare disease. His friends and family could not bring themselves to open his donut stand in Riverfront Park Tuesday but they said owning those stands was his childhood dream and running them was his life's passion.
A few months ago Bartlett was hospitalized with brain encephalitis. His family thought he was getting better but his condition started to go downhill.
"It just went worse and he had strokes, mini strokes," Tracy's mom Dot Clark said.
Those strokes put Tracy on a ventilator and feeding tube and finally on Monday the doctor gave Tracy's mom some very bad news.
"That he had quite a few of them and he didn't know how many and he would never be Tracy again and so we decided to let him go," Dot said.
Sitting with Dot Clark Tuesday was a man called Crazy, Tracy's friend and longtime employee. Tracy and Crazy met in Riverfront Park nine years ago and at the time crazy was homeless.
"He told his mom he says you got to meet him he is the cleanest homeless person you've ever met," Crazy said.
At first Tracy found odd jobs for Crazy; they later became close friends.
"He was my best friend out of my whole life he was the only true friend I have ever had," Crazy said.
For the past three years Crazy has been working by Tracy's side, running the five mini-donut stands in the area
"The donuts was his biggest thing, he could fling from here to the other side of the street and get them right in your hand while you were walking," Crazy said.
The kindness Tracy showed Cazy is how his friends and family say he lived his life, spreading joy one mini donut at a time
"He gave more than he ever received," Crazy said. "He is one of the greatest people in this town."
Tracy's friends and family are hosting a celebration of his life in Riverfront Park on May 31st at 2 p.m. in the gazebo behind the butterfly.
The other thing they say you can do to celebrate his life are to continue enjoying Tracy's mini-donuts.