Shelly Tracy, age 72, of Lake Clear, NY, passed away on January 11, 2026, from a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disease. She was attended by her husband Kevin Hepfer.

Shelly was born on May 7, 1953, in Cortland New York, the daughter of Anna White Tracy and Alfred David Tracy.

Shelly attended McGraw High School and graduated in 1971; she later went on to college, earning a bachelor's degree in health education at SUNY Cortland in 1989. In 1994 Shelly entered the master's program in mental health counseling at SUNY Plattsburgh, she graduated in 1996.

Shelly married Kevin Hepfer on August 21, 1988, in Homer New York. Shelly and Kevin moved to the Adirondacks in 1993 and eventually settled between Lake Clear and Saranac Lake, New York. The couple worked, lived, and played together in marriage for 37 years.

Shelly started a mental health counseling practice in 1997 and was an adjunct professor at North Country Community College for many years. Shelly loved counseling and, in many ways, it defined her. Shelly continued working until her illness made that impossible.

Shelly loved hiking, canoeing and cross-country skiing. She was also an advocate for all creatures great and small, with a special love for loons, elephants, wild turkeys and butterflies. It was common to see Shelly along the roadside throughout the summer, relocating monarch butterfly caterpillars to a safe location so they could mature.

Shelly's memory is maintained by her husband Kevin, numerous loving nieces, nephews, cousins, two sisters in law, and many friends, former clients and colleagues. She will be missed.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Saranac Lake in the spring, with details to follow.

Services were entrusted to Heidrick Funeral Home, 48 Court St., Plattsburgh, NY 12901.