Traci Lynn Steely (4-2-2011) services 4-6-11

Traci Lynn (Tooter) Steely was born April 7, 2008 in Savannah, the daughter of PJ and Candice Renfro Steely.

Traci Lynn was only here for a short time but she managed to touch the heart of many. Her smile and laughter was contagious; she loved playing with her best friend, "Monk Monk." She loved to listen to music on her IPod, watch movies especially Twilight 2, Aladdin, Chipmunks, Spirit, Toy Story and Lion King, loved play-doh, her coop car, riding her four-wheeler, eating Pringles, cool ranch doritos and loved cottage cheese. She liked to watch wrestling and then practice her moves on her mommy. Traci Lynn loved many things in her short time here but two of her favorite things were playing in mud puddles and Alabama football.

Her journey with St. Jude began on June 15, 2010 with a diagnosis of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. From June 16, 2010 through Nov. 16, 2010, she went through hardcore chemotherapy and radiation. She received her first bone marrow transplant on Oct. 1, 2010 and then her second on Nov. 19, 2010. On Dec. 23, 2010, she and her family heard the most wonderful words–cancer free! She finally got to come home after being at St. Jude for seven months on Thursday, March 3, 2011. Traci Lynn spiked a fever on Monday, March 28, 2011 and was admitted once again to St. Jude. Traci Lynn received her wings on April 2, 2011 in Memphis, at the age of 2 years, 11 months, 26 days, after complications from a viral infection.

She is survived by her devoted and loving parents, PJ and Candice Steely of Morris Chapel; maternal grandparents, David and Laura Renfro of Morris Chapel; paternal grandmother, Michelle Steely of Savannah; paternal grandfather, Phillip Steely of Jackson, Tenn.; maternal great grandmother, Patsy "Giegie" Perry of Morris Chapel; maternal great grandfathers, Flavis Presley of Belmont, Miss., and Jessie Gladden Sr. of Fairfield, Texas; paternal great-grandmother, Susan "Nanny" Stoner Coggins of Crump; aunt and uncle, Sinda and Michael Paul Ditto and their son, Haeden "Monk Monk" all of Saltillo; three aunts, Kayce Renfro of Morris Chapel, Jennifer Parker and her son, Antonio both of Memphis and Crystal Surratt of Crump; two uncles, Douglas Renfro of Morris Chapel and Dalton Steely of Savannah; great uncle, Bobby Perry and his children, Tony and Christina, all of Morris Chapel; cousin, Christopher Flores and wife Jennifer of Pigeon Forge, Tenn.; host of extended family and friends.

She is preceded in death by maternal great-grandfather, Ed Perry, paternal great-grandfather, Walt Coggins and paternal grandparents, Jerry and Betty Steely.

Traci Lynn’s family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Dave Shook, the St. Jude transplant team, Dr. Paul Ribeiro, Dr. Wing Leung, the wonderful nursing staff, Child Life, and Partners in Hope.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, April 6, at 3 p.m., at Shackelford Funeral Directors of Savannah with Jetta Forsythe officiating. Burial followed in the Crump Cemetery at Crump, Tenn. Pallbearers were Michael Ditto, Douglas Renfro, Randy Strickland and Chris Flores.