Tracy Lynn French, 57, of Sheridan, Wyoming, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her loving family on June 30, 2025, after a courageous 38-year battle with kidney disease.

Tracy was born on August 7th, 1967, in Farmington, New Mexico, to Rex and Vickie Henderson. Shortly after Tracy’s middle sister, Tana, was born, Vickie and the girls moved to Gillette, Wyoming, where Vickie married Joe Knapp, and he adopted the girls. Later, she would welcome two additional siblings, Toby and Greta.

At the age of 8, the family moved to Sheridan, Wyoming. As the oldest of the kids, she naturally fell into the role of protector and entertainer. Making sure the other kids were happy and laughing, she put on skits and dance routines that they would all do for the family every chance they could. Coming from a musical family, her dad and brother taught her to play the drums, and her love of music and dance helped her become a great drummer and cheerleader for 6 years, including 4 years as captain of Sheridan High’s varsity cheerleading squads.

In 1989, Tracy married the love of her life, Shawn French, and for 36 years they lived, laughed, and loved their way through countless medical adversities. Even though she had endured 2 heart attacks, 3 kidney transplants, and numerous other medical procedures, Tracy was able to enjoy her passions of music, jewelry making, drawing, painting, photography, rock hounding, camping, and fishing. Tracy was an avid outdoor enthusiast and was completely in love with the Big Horn Mountains, and she spent every opportunity she had to camp with her family. Her other love in life was her dogs. Tracy had several breeds over the years, but Shih Tzu were her absolute favorite. For the last 7 years, her four-legged bodyguard Squiggles has been by her side and was with her all the way to the end.

Tracy loved the beauty of nature. Whether it was capturing it with a camera, planting flowers in the yard, or just a quiet walk through the forest, she always found her peace in the beauty of the natural world.

At the end of her journey, Tracy made the incredibly brave choice to stop all medical treatment and live out the rest of her life on her terms, free from being tied to a medical diagnosis. She lived the last 3 months enjoying trips to the mountains, the dinosaur museum in Thermopolis, planting flowers in her yard, and of course being surrounded with puppy love from Squiggles, Bubbles, Charlie, Louie, and the late Toki, who is with her now.

Tracy Lynn French was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Vickie Knapp, and her son, Steven Andrew French. She is survived by her husband, Shawn; sons, Paul Sheldon French (Krystle) and Erik Konkel; sisters, Greta Knapp and Tana Hurlbert; brother, Toby Knapp (Marge); niece, Sydney Knapp; nephews, Jillian Knapp and Jacob French (Tonjua); and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

There will be a celebration of life on August 9th, 2025, at Kane Funeral Home from 12 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., with a taco bar and dessert to coincide with Tracy’s 58th birthday on August 7th.

Memorial donations can be sent to the Sheridan dog and cat shelter.

Champion Kane Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

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