Tacie M. Himelright

Tacie M. Himelright, 93 of New Holland, PA passed away Tuesday March 4, 2025 at Lancaster General Hospital in Lancaster.

She was the wife of the late Raymond S. “Pete” Himelright, Jr.

Born July 11, 1931 in Coatesville, PA she was the daughter of the late Stanley Montgomery and the late Helen Mercer Montgomery. She is also predeceased by her stepmother Clara Montgomery. Named for a family friend Tacie Heston Gatchel, she fondly remembered when she or her brother would get in trouble, they would run up the street to Aunt Tacie’s. Moving to West Chester, PA where her father had a luncheonette “Stan’s Little Grill”, she often recalled dipping ice cream and “Breyer’s calling”. Her family opened their house to the men coming back from WW II and she liked to recall them hanging out in the basement playing pinball and other games.

Tacie grew up in Coatesville and West Chester and graduated from West Chester High School on North Church Street. Her senior year the school burned, and she often would remember doing half days while it was rebuilt. She graduated from Cedar Crest College, with a degree in chemistry, where she played field hockey.

She worked as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist for Chester County Hospital, Bryn Mawr Hospital and finally Southern Chester County (Jennersville). Making many lifelong friends along the way. She would often comment that she and Sally Mentzer (a coworker and close friend), only got 4-wheel drive vehicles after years of travelling on snowy days. After retirement from medical work, she became a Christmas docent at Longwood Garden. Both she and Pete loved the Gardens and spent many hours there on their off time.

Tacie & Pete moved to Garden Spot Village (GSV) and were very happy there, making new friends. After moving to GSV both she and Pete took several cruises, including Alaska and through the Panama Canal. She loved to tell stories of these two trips, including getting to see Mt Rainier without any clouds. In her early days at GSV she volunteered to help drive other residents to their appointments. Tacie was a member of the Garden Spot Village Community Church and the Garden Spot Village Quilters. She made many quilts for friend and family, getting as much joy in giving them away as she did in making them. She won “Viewers Choice” award for her beach themed quilt in Wings and Water Festival sponsored by the Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor, NJ.

She enjoyed quilting, knitting and sports on tv. An avid Phillies Phan she never missed a game on tv. She also was a big fan of “March Madness” and watched as many college basketball games leading up to the “Big Dance” as she could. She loved going to Longwood Gardens for the various seasonal display and fireworks. She loved Stone Harbor, NJ. For the last couple of years rented a unit on the bay. Watching the draw bridge, birds, boats and sunset made her happy. She was able to spend time with her cousins Bonnie and Susie while she was there. She played bridge most of her life and was part of several groups in West Chester. The last group she played with included a lifelong friend from high school, Beryl Bradley & her sister Lois and a friend Wendy Hendricks. The group had a lot of fun enjoying one another’s company as much as the game. She loved her newspaper and always did the daily puzzles. She loved crossword puzzles, sudoku, and cryptograms.

Tacie is survived by her daughter, Tacie J Himelright and her beloved son-in-law K. David Katzmire. She is also survived by her favorite cousins Bonnie Polk (Chet), Susie McTighe and Jenny Richardson, as well as many cousins from Pete.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents and her brother Dean, her Aunt Tacie, and her “Aunties” (her mother’s sisters). She was closest to Rose Evans (Bonnie Polk), Esther Minker, Olive Hampton (Elmer) and Doris “Dots” Flora (Don).

Relatives and friends are invited to her Graveside Service in June at a date that will be announced soon at Longwood Cemetery 945 E. Baltimore Pike Kennett Square PA 19348-

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Wounded Warrior Project or Friends of Flight 93 or the Wetland Institute.

Arrangements by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. of West Chester, PA 610-696-1181; www.DellaFH.com