Charles William "Bill" Lacy, 82, died December 7, 2020, after a lengthy illness (stroke) compounded by a recent diagnosis of lymphoma of the small intestine, (March 17, 2020) at Vermillion Place Assisted Living. He had been under the care of Hospice since late March.
Bill was born at home in Spiceland, to Charles Gene Lacy and Evangeline Glidewell Lacy. He attended elementary, junior high and high school in Spiceland, graduating in 1958, a little late due to having rheumatic fever when he was young. He grew to be 6'5" tall, dark and handsome.
Bill always liked to hunt, camp, play poker; and he became an avid fisherman. He and his friends fished in Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, Minnesota and Canada throughout his adult life until his stroke. After high school graduation, Bill lived in Florida and briefly worked at Cape Canaveral as a limo driver. He moved to Middletown, while working at Delco Remy Division of General Motors. He retired after 33 years in 1996. During his years at Delco, he also worked as a "bouncer" at the Holiday Inn and Rathskeller lounges in Anderson.
On February 23, 1999, Bill married Susie Foster of Chesterfield. Shortly after their first anniversary, he suffered a debilitating stroke at age 61 (April 15, 2000). The stroke left him hemiplegic, unable to converse, read/write or walk without assistance. He accepted his "new" life and never complained during his 20 years of disability.
Because he couldn't stay alone, while Susie was still working, Bill was in day care for several years, then assisted living. For the last 17 years, he was at Vermillion Place Assisted Living (United Faith Housing). Bill loved the entire staff throughout his years there and was always kind, happy and accepting of his condition. Though he couldn't converse, he called his caregivers his "darlings" and very frequently answered a question with "HELL YES!"
Bill is survived by his wife of 21 years, Susie, Chesterfield, son Jeff (Sheila Dabbs) Lacy of Spring Hill, TN; and a daughter, Jude Lacy (Damon) Burke, Wakarusa; also surviving are his adored grandsons (the lights of his life), Ian Lacy Burke, Wakarusa; Liam Lacy (Melody) Burke, London, UK; his sister, Geneva Bratcher of Knightstown; stepsons, Aaron Foster of Anderson; Derek Foster, Puyallup, Washington; step grandchildren, Alexus, Donovan, Jacqueline Foster of Puyallup, Washington; sister-in-law, Donna Givens of Anderson; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Bill was preceded in death by his father, Gene in 1969, mother Evangeline in 1998, brother, Jim Lacy in 2006, brother-in-law, Wayne Givens in 2008, mother-in-law, Nita McLaughlin in 2018, and sister-in-law, Mary Kay Lacy on October 19, 2020.
Visitation will be held at Rozelle-Johnson Funeral Service from 12 noon until 2 p.m. Friday, December 11, 2020 followed by the funeral at 2 p.m. officiated by Ned Clark from Chesterfield Christian Church and burial at East Maplewood Cemetery.
Due to Covid-19, masks and social distancing is required.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Vermillion Place Assisted Living or the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association.
A special thank-you to all of the past and current staff at Vermillion Place Assisted Living. Bill spent many happy times with you all. Also thank-you to St. Vincent's Ascension Hospice for their care, especially Natasha Riggs, RN; Kelli Bennett LMSW and Sarah Fleenor CNA.
Post online condolences at www.rozelle-johnson.com.