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Timothy Michael Lynch, 68, of Ardmore passed away on Friday, September 17, 2021, following an 18-year battle with cancer. In his final days he was surrounded by family, friends, loving words and gestures.
He was born in West Bend, Wisconsin on August 6, 1953, and raised in Whitewater, Wisconsin where he was a star football player and wrestler. He graduated from Duluth East High School and attended the University of Minnesota, Duluth. As a young man he was a bull rider and rodeo clown, one year making it to the national finals in bullfighting. He competed in the rodeo circuit and eventually migrated to the world of horse shows where he found a passion for showing and training horses. He eventually gave up the rodeo life to pursue a full-time business in horse training.
As he established his training business, he supported himself for many years working as a farrier in Minnesota. His work shoeing horses, along with a quick stint as a stockbroker for PaineWebber, allowed him to save enough money to purchase his first ranch in Duluth where he began his long career as a reining horse trainer. He relocated to Prior Lake Minnesota where he expanded his operation and began training non-pro customers as he continued his own competitive endeavors. As his career developed, he relocated again, this time to Marietta. He resided here for many years, met lifelong friends and business partners, and it was here that he met and married the love of his life, Tracy.
In Oklahoma he became an active member in the First Baptist Church of Marietta and made many dear friends. He spent time participating in the Ardmore Little Theater where he excelled as an actor, and he was cast in many local productions. During this time, his career as a reining horse trainer was at its peak and took him to all corners of the United States as well as Mexico, Europe and Japan where he completed, conducted clinics and judged reining events. He was respected and successful in the business and had acquired a collect of accolades and buckles, until a serious spinal cord injury turned riding from painful to impossible and ultimately ended his tenure as a trainer.
Unable to ride and train, he found himself on a new career path when he accepted a position to manage the Hardy Murphy Coliseum in Ardmore, which flourished under his direction. Not only did he breathe new life into the once famous arena, while doing so he became a well-known and beloved member of the business community of Ardmore. His responsibilities at Hardy Murphy led him to many relationships in both the public and private sector. He passionately worked on development projects both for the Hardy Murphy Coliseum and the City of Ardmore. He worked tirelessly to promote both Hardy Murphy Coliseum and to bring business, events and commerce into the city he loved.
His skill as an equine event center manager caught the attention of the town of Queen Creek, Arizona and he was offered a position at Horseshoe Park Equestrian Center. He considered it an offer he couldn't refuse and relocated to Queen Creek. He managed the HPEC for 10 years and again another facility flourished under his direction. He attracted major events to the park and organized many major structural improvements. His final project of a second covered arena was completed just days before his retirement. He considered this his greatest accomplishment at Horseshoe Park and its completion was applauded by all.
Upon his retirement from HPEC, he moved back to his beloved southern Oklahoma where he reunited with friends and was a member of First Baptist Ardmore. He and his wife Tracy threw a St. Patrick's Day party every year that was looked forward to by friends and neighbors and included his special performance of Danny Boy - in the style of a Vegas lounge singer. He was a self-educated historian, practical joker and amazing storyteller with a shining personality and indomitable spirit. He was a cowboy who lived his life under the cowboy code of ethics - he lived each day with courage, took pride in his work, finished what he started and loved his family. His humor, determination and bravery touched all who knew him.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Eugene and Joann Lynch.
Survivors include his loving wife of 22 years, Tracy Shea; his daughter, Jamey Worley (Kelly) of Plymouth, Minnesota; grandchildren, Devon Elizabeth 23, Rhett McRae 20 and Cassidy Jean 12, all of Plymouth, Minnesota; sisters, Nancy Smolich (Steve) of Biwabik, Minnesota and Mary Mannion (Ciaran) of Athlone, Ireland; brothers, David Lynch (Gail) and Andrew Lynch (Ivonne), all of Tampa, Florida; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be held at First Baptist Church in Ardmore at a date to be determined in mid-October. Memorial donations may be sent to Tracy Lynch through Harvey-Douglas Funeral Home in Ardmore or can be made in his name to Rein in Cancer through their website at www.reinincancer.com.
Online guest book: hdouglasfuneralhome.com Harvey-Douglas
This obituary included a photo of Mr. Lynch.
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