Dalton Christian Lacy departed this world on Thursday, February 11, 2016 at home, joining his loving wife Joy, parents John and Clara, and his five brothers and sisters in heaven.
Family visitation is from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13th at Johnson's Funeral Home. Funeral service is at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 14th at the First United Methodist Church in Miles, Texas with Rev. Gary Karschner officiating. Burial will follow in Miles Cemetery. The family requests that memorials be sent to the Miles Methodist Church building fund or to the charity of your choice. Pallbearers will be the grandsons.
Dalton Christian Lacy was born on January 2, 1924 at the family home at Miles, Texas, to John Franklin and Clara Etta Lester Lacy. He attended public schools in Miles, graduating in 1941. He was attending Tarleton University when Pearl Harbor was bombed, and returned home to his family in Miles immediately, anticipating that he would go in the service immediately. However, he returned to Tarleton the next year, and remained there until he entered the service in 1943. He entered the Navy in December 1943, and served until April 1946. His service was as a Sonar Man First Class on the DE USS Roberts DE749 in the South Pacific. During his service the ship ran convoy escorts and his first assignment left San Francisco in December 1944 to Honolulu, Hawaii. During his tour of service he participated in searches for aircraft survivors at sea. At one point during his service his ship was docked near Nagasaki and he was able to inspect the destruction from the bombing in the area. He participated in convoy escorts for two years, including about twenty runs in the Pacific Ocean to various islands including the Marianas, Japanese, Philippines, Hawaiians, and Marshalls. He returned from the two years of sea duty via San Diego, went through the Panama Canal and arrived in Norfolk, VA in December, 1945. His final days of service were completed at Jacksonville, Florida. Upon his return home from his Navy service he went back to Tarleton to complete his studies. He completed his Associate in Science degree from Tarleton in May 1947.
After graduation, Dalton returned to the family farm to help his mother and father. Papa Lacy was in failing health, and passed away in April, 1948. Dalton married Joy Larue Fletcher at the parsonage of the Miles Methodist Church on June 17, 1948. During the early years of their marriage they lived with his mother, Clara Lacy. A short time after their first child was born they moved ¼ mile down the road from the home Dalton was born in, and raised their family there, moving only once in 1974 when they built a new home next to the old one. The children were in and out of Clara Lacy's home almost daily, and one of the children would stay overnight with her most nights. In her later years Dalton and his siblings cared for her, allowing her to spend her last days in the comfort of her own home.
Dalton farmed, raising cotton during the drought in the 1950s. During this time, he also began working for the Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Service, employed there from 1953 until 1971, when he retired from that work to become a full time cotton farmer. He farmed in Runnels County, raising mainly cotton and milo until his retirement in 1989.
Dalton served on the Miles Independent School District Board for a number of years until 1971, serving as president the last five of those years. He was a trustee and President of the Miles Co-Op Gin. He also served as a trustee and Treasurer at the Miles United Methodist Church. Being the youngest of six children, Dalton, with Joy at his side, became helper and caregiver to several elderly family members over the years. When not working or caring for aging relatives, Dalton loved to hunt. He hunted with friends and family at various leases near Ozona and Mason over the years. For many years he hunted in Colorado with friends and family.
Dalton was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Joy. He was also preceded in death by his five brothers and sisters and their spouses: Lester Lacy and wife Frances Hester Lacy, Valree Lacy Jackson and husband Bill, John Bonner Lacy and wife Marcel Stokes Lacy, Leta Dell Lacy Schovajsa and husband Albert, Mary Kate Lacy Kincaid and husband Clebert, and by son-in-law Ed Seay.
Dalton is survived by his six children: John Franklin Lacy and wife Sherry Millican Lacy of Brenham, Texas, Robert C. Lacy and friend Corrie Williams of Carlsbad, Texas, Sally Munn Lacy of Water Valley, Texas, Kent Lacy and wife Nevie Haley Lacy of San Angelo, Gaye Lacy Pelzel and husband Richard of Miles, Texas, SuAnn Lacy Seay and Lance Scott Lacy and wife Judy Franco Lacy, all of San Angelo. He is also survived by one brother-in-law Wilson Fletcher and wife Laura of Rowlett, Texas. Dalton is survived by fourteen grandchildren: Nicole Lacy Friedel and spouse Darren of Hockley, Texas, Natalie Lacy Lange and spouse Harper of Brenham, Texas, John F. Lacy III and spouse Lauren of Arvada, Colorado, Christy Lacy Mirizzi and spouse Marc and Stacy Lacy Carter and spouse Henry of Spicewood, Texas, Colby Dalton Lacy and spouse Shannon Counts Lacy of Water Valley, Texas, Haley Lacy Rose and spouse Kevin of Elgin, Texas, Leland Fletcher Lacy and spouse Laura McCall Lacy of San Angelo, Julie Pelzel Grohman and spouse Josh of Tuscola, Texas, Lacy Pelzel Bailey and spouse Jon of San Angelo, Logan Pelzel of Miles, Texas, Kendal Blake Lacy and spouse Crystal of Cibolo, Texas, Tyler Ross Lacy and fiancé Sandra Martinez of Lubbock, Texas, and Joy LuAnn Seay and friend Seth Rucker of San Angelo. He is also survived by twenty one great grandchildren: Katie Lynn Friedel and Dean Friedel of Hockley, Texas, Tice Lange and Slade Lange of Brenham, Texas, Charlotte Lacy of Arvada, Colorado, Giovanni Mirizzi and Anna Marie Mirizzi and Jason Carter and Madison Carter of Spicewood, Texas, Landon Lacy and Branson Lacy of Water Valley, Texas, Lane Lacy and Luke Lacy of San Angelo, Riley Grohman of Tuscola, Texas, Davis Bailey, Truett Bailey and Brogan Bailey, all of San Angelo, and Dalton Lacy, Addison Lacy, Asher Lacy and Sophie Lacy of Cibolo, Texas. Dalton and Joy enjoyed their friendship with their many nieces and nephews. Dalton was preceded in death by his nephews and nieces: Doyle Jackson, Kim Schovajsa Dillon, Lola Peterson Walters, Gail Kincaid Bowden, Sonny Lacy, and Donita Kay Lacy. He is survived by a number of nieces and nephews: Ben Lacy and wife Glenda of Miles, Texas, Dwain Jackson and wife Darla of Lubbock, Texas, Jane Theobold and husband David of Houston, Texas, George Schovajsa and wife Libby of Hotchkiss, Colorado, Lacy Whitehead and husband Al of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Lori Peterson and spouse Tamra of Lake Wood, Minnesota, Derek Fletcher and wife Christine of Allen, Texas and Scott Fletcher and wife Raelene of Dallas, Texas; and numerous great nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to thank his loving caregivers, Sheila Rumsey, Kay Scott, Fay Hatten and Rachel Hernandez.
