TRACY ANN KYSER-BUSS
June 27, 1969 – June 12, 2026
Some people pass through life. Tracy Ann Kyser-Buss made a beautiful entrance wherever she went.
Tracy passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack on Friday, June 12, 2026, at her home in Boston, Massachusetts. She was 56 years old, just weeks shy of her birthday.
To know Tracy was to know beauty, laughter, adventure, and a wit so sharp it could leave you laughing long after the conversation ended. She had a gift for making life feel larger, brighter, and infinitely more interesting.
She was also, in many ways, a mystery. Those lucky enough to be close to her understood that mystery wasn’t something to solve—it was simply part of her magic. Like all of us, Tracy carried her own shadows. She could be stubborn beyond belief, and once she decided she was going to do something, there was little chance of changing her mind. Somehow, she always found a way. She was a worrier, a dreamer, and a believer in possibilities all at once.
There was something about Tracy that made people want to gather around her, protect her, laugh with her, and do life alongside her. Maybe it was her vulnerability, her uniqueness, or the way she saw the world through her own colorful lens. Whatever it was, those who loved her know there will never be another quite like her.
While Tracy was perfectly comfortable in her own company and often found peace in her independence, she held a sacred place in her heart for the small circle she loved most. Her daughter, Tallulah; her sister, Lisa; and her nieces, Tatum and Jett, were her people. They were the constants in her life—the ones who shared her laughter, her adventures, her worries, and her heart.
That family circle will never be broken. Though Tracy’s place within it can never be filled and she can never be replaced, her love remains woven into each of their lives, forever.
Born on June 27, 1969, in Irving, Texas, Tracy grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas, where her love of horses began. An accomplished hunter-jumper equestrian, she spent countless hours in the saddle and developed the fearless spirit that would define her life.
Her striking beauty led her into modeling, where she became a Miss Hawaiian Tropic finalist, but those who knew her best understood that her personality always outshined her appearance.
Tracy was the “OG” (original) curator of cool. Long before playlists existed, she was making legendary mixtapes filled with indie artists and hidden gems. Music wasn’t just something she listened to—it was how she expressed and experienced the world.
After graduating from the University of San Francisco with a degree in Communications, Tracy pursued her love of the arts. She worked as an actor, making her film debut in Forty Days and Forty Nights and appearing in recurring roles on the television series Nash Bridges. Creativity was never just a chapter in her life; it was the thread that ran through all of it.
Her lifelong love for Hawaii eventually led her to live on the islands for several years. The spirit of “@tracyaloha” became part of who she was.
Later, when she returned to Dallas to be closer to family, she created The Hawaianna, an island-inspired boutique business that reflected her unique style and adventurous spirit. Operating from her beloved Bambi Airstream, Tracy brought her “Hawaiian” charm to some of the most vibrant markets and events in Texas.
Of all the roles Tracy played, none meant more to her than being a mother.
When her daughter, Tallulah Belle Buss, was born, Tracy found her greatest purpose and deepest joy. She poured her heart into every aspect of Tallulah’s life, encouraging her creativity, supporting her dreams, and showing up consistently for every performance, rehearsal, and production she could.
While managing the Dallas Academy of Music & Performing Arts, Tracy became a constant presence behind the scenes, volunteering and helping produce countless musicals and performances. The bond between Tracy and Tallulah was like no other; like Loreali and Rory from Gilmore Girls, built on unconditional love, shared artistry, humor, and an unbreakable devotion to one another.
In one final chapter of adventure, Tracy recently moved to Boston. She grabbed Boston by the lobster claws and made it her own. Through TikTok and social media, she documented her life with style and wonder, inviting others into her world and reminding everyone that life is meant to be lived fully and without hesitation.
Tracy is survived by her daughter, Tallulah Belle Buss of Boston, Massachusetts; her parents, James Floyd Kyser and Patricia Kyser of Little Rock, Arkansas; her sister, Lisa Kyser of Venice, California; her brothers, Greg Kyser and wife Margaret of Nashville, Tennessee, and Steven Kyser and wife Stephanie of Little Rock, Arkansas; and her beloved nieces, Tatum Kyser Jenkins and Jett Presley Jenkins of Venice, California.
The world feels quieter without Tracy in it. But her stories, her laughter, her taste in music, her style, her contradictions, and her fearless spirit will continue to live through everyone who knew her.
If Tracy taught us anything, it would be that if you have a dream, there is a way to make it happen despite all odds. Through manifestation and vision boards, though people may laugh, Tracy saw what she wanted her life to be, and though her time in Boston was short-lived, she got her dream.
Perhaps that's why cardinals seem more present in our lives lately. In the days when we've needed Tracy the most, those flashes of red carry her spirit, moving to a rhythm of their own. Maybe she is reminding us all to keep going, to live on for her, to keep laughing, and most importantly, to keep pursuing our life's dream, whatever that may be.
That would be just like Tracy.
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS
Donations may be made in Tracy’s memory to Boston Conservatory at Berklee, where her daughter Tallulah is continuing her artistic journey, or to the Conservatory’s Annual Fund or General Scholarship Fund supporting the next generation of artists. Gifts may be made online at https://bostonconservatory.berklee.edu/giving.
A celebration of Tracy’s life will be planned at a later date, when those who loved her can gather to honor her in the way she would have wanted—surrounded by music, stories, and love.