In Memory of Tracy Andrus
Tracy Andrus, the second of three daughters of former Idaho Governor and Secretary of the Interior Cecil D Andrus and Carol M. Andrus, passed away on the morning of March 12, 2024.
Born of rural roots on February 10, 1956, Tracy spent her early years in Orofino, ID where her father operated a lumber mill and where she developed an early love for the state of Idaho that would grow through a lifetime. The Andrus family moved to Lewiston when her father served in the State Senate and then on to Boise shortly before he was elected Governor. The Andrus family was very close and during her junior high and high school years, Tana, Tracy and Kelly spent every summer week-end possible with their parents at the family cabin on Lake Cascade. Winter week-ends usually found her on Bogus Basin. Whether on water or snow skis she transformed fluid motion into poetry.
A straight A student, she earned a Presidential Scholarship at Idaho State University where she started out in journalism but migrated to business studies. Her time at Idaho State was cut short by a diagnosis of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. At that time in 1975 there were few survivors of Hodgkin’s but Stanford University was starting to provide ground breaking radiation therapy using a linear accelerator. She went on to become a poster child for cancer survivors and met with many patients to offer encouragement.
Tracy resumed her college career at Georgetown University, following her family to Washington D.C. when her father was appointed Secretary of the Interior under the Carter Administration. While attending classes, she served as a legislative assistant on Capitol Hill for Senator Wendell Anderson of Minnesota. But the tug of Idaho was too strong and Tracy and Tana returned to Boise where she finished her degree in marketing at Boise State.
Tracy launched her business career in the marketing department of Ore-Ida Foods. She loved the work but the travel requirements were not conducive to growing a family. So, after eight years at Ore-Ida and daughter Morgan in tow, she started a small business, Andrus-Shane, which catered to professional women’s fashion needs. While running her own business she was asked to serve on the Board of the Downtown Business Association, and ultimately served as its president. In 1993, people started asking her to run for Mayor of Boise. She loved policy and planning and fixing stuff so she launched a campaign with some loyal supporters ( who later referred to themselves as the “Doilies”). Tracy lost narrowly, and as later chapters of her life unfolded she reflected that it was good experience but she might have missed those chapters had she won.
Soon thereafter, she was invited onto the Board of Directors of Blue Cross of Idaho but it didn’t take long for the CEO to ask her to join the management team as Sr. Vice-President for Marketing and Provider services. Seven years later, she needed to make a decision between career and personal life. A new CFO started at Blue Cross in 1999 and after two years of rounding out corporate tables as the only two single senior staff Tracy and Jack Myers decided to marry. The company said “ Wonderful news, which one of you will leave?”
Ahh, but why sit at home. It was back to Boise State to earn an MBA. Then while building a consulting practice in business and strategic planning, Tracy was invited to join the Board of Moda Health, a health insurance company based in Portland, Oregon.
If asked what the capstone of her career was, Tracy would say building on her Dad’s legacy through her work with The Andrus Center for Public Policy. In 2014, following some reductions in administrative support from BSU, her father asked her to help in planning the future direction of the Center which promotes wise use of environmental resources and public lands, ensuring children enter the classroom ready to learn, and cultivating leadership from all segments of society. She took over as President and Chairperson of the Center in 2017. Now with an Endowed Chair through BSU the Center’s future growth is secure.
Even with her many career successes, Tracy most valued her time with family. Girl’s trips to the Oregon Coast with her mom and sisters were regular events. Time at the cabin on Lake Cascade was especially cherished, either jet-skiing with daughter Morgan or just sitting on the deck admiring the view. Jack and Tracy enjoyed many rounds of golf at Crane Creek, oh and of course the Board of Crane Creek Country Club asked her to be their first woman President. Holidays were always big family events and in later years the grandkids were regulars in the back yard pool and making smores.
Tracy was preceded in death by her father Cecil Andrus and her sister Tana. She is survived by her husband Jack Myers, mother Carol Andrus, sister Kelly Andrus (Bob Johnson), daughter Morgan Shane, niece Monica Church (Chad and daughter Casey), nephew Andrew Church (Amy and children Aoife and Andrew, Jr.) step-daughter Reva Myers and step-son Tyson Myers ( Stephanie and children Milena, Luca and Jonah).
You will be missed by many.
Farewell for now BEAUFUL…
A celebration of Tracy’s life will be hosted by the family and Boise State University on May 14, 4:00 PM at the Steuckle Sky Center. Details will be posted later on the Bowman Funeral website.
In memory of Tracy, the family kindly asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in support of the Andrus Center Stewards of Tomorrow endowment, an effort that Tracy was very passionate about. The Stewards campaign invests in students’ experiences outside the classroom, enhancing academics and broadening the intellectual lives of the next generation of environment and public land stewards. Donations can be made here: https://bit.ly/49RAvc7 or checks may be mailed to the Boise State University Foundation, 1173 University Dr, Boise Idaho 83706.