Laura Tracy Baisden

Laura Tracy Baisden, 50, was born November 22, 1967 at Park Ridge, Illinois. She departed this life on Friday, May 11, 2018. Tracy was a member of the First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, of Logan West Virginia, where she served as an elder. She belonged to the Order of Eastern Star, Logan Chapter #60. Tracy worked her entire career of 28 years at Logan High School. While best known as a Language Arts Teacher and for her love of writing, her teaching credentials proudly reflect her passion for science. National Writing Project coworker, Paul Epstein described her as, “Teacher Extraordinaire who blended a love for sciences, Literature, and writing, and delivered all her love to her students, her community and Logan High School.” Tracy served as chairperson of the English Department, was Logan County Teacher of the Year, and a finalist of the WV Teacher of the Year. She was an adjunct professor at Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College. She received the Walmart Teacher of the Year Award and the Book Love Foundation grant from author Penny Kittle. Under her direction, many students achieved success in higher education and careers, and attribute their success directly to LT. Many have successful writing careers and writing lifestyles. Accolades include The Scottish Rites Americanism Essay winners and Young Writers Essays winners. Tracy belonged to Delta Kappa Gamma, an honorary teacher society, where she served a term as President. This year Tracy established a charter for the National English Honor Society at Logan High School. Tracy was preceded in death by maternal grandparents, Jake and Elizabeth Herald, paternal grandparents, Henderson and Lucille Baisden, and her mother-in-law, Sarah Martin. She is survived by her husband, Ernest Martin III, parents Joe and Sara Baisden, sister Libby Jo (Chad) Salyers, father-in-law Ernest Martin, Jr., special friends, Jeana McNeely Smith, Missy, Rachael and Sara Fortune, and Haley and Joshua Bumgarner. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Laura Tracy “LT” Baisden scholarship fund at LB&T, Logan, WV. Visitation will be Monday, May 14, 2018, at The Logan Memorial Field House from 6-9 PM. The funeral service will be conducted Tuesday, May 15, 2018, at the First Christian Church of Logan at noon.

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