Walter W. Lacey

Walter Wayne Lacey of Smithton, MO, passed away Friday, September 14, 2018, at the age of 78, due to Alzheimer’s while residing at The Living Center in Marshall, MO.

Walter was born June 4, 1940, in Smithton, MO, the youngest child of George William and Icie Cordelia (King) Lacey. He was baptized May 27, 1945, at the Salem Methodist Church. He attended grade school and high school in Smithton and graduated in 1958. Walter grew up on the family farm north of Smithton and loved riding horses. He raised horses for barrel racing and horse shows. He loved listening to Western music, two step dancing wearing his cowboy boots, blue jeans and western style shirt, and watching western movies. Walter was also a past member of The Loyal Order Moose Lodge of Sedalia, MO #1494.

Walter was well known as a very hard worker. He would work his regular job, come home and work on his own farm and then go help any neighbor needing something done. He worked eighteen years for Beatrice Foods (Meadow Gold) in Sedalia, three years as a Railroad Engineer/Conductor for Cotton Belt, Pratt, KS and Rock Island, Eldon, MO. And he worked for twenty-one years (seven as a Foreman) at Wire Rope (Macehyte, Broadwick and Baskumn) in Sedalia before he retired.

Walter lived most of his life on the Lacey Family Farm north of Smithton that has been in the family for 125 years, established in 1893 and registered as a Century Farm in 2015. He loved living on and working the farm, sitting on his porch in the fresh air with his cup of coffee in one hand and waving at people as they drove by.

He had a great time on his first plane trip in 2008 with nephew, Bill & wife, Cindy Lacey to Alaska to visit nephew, Dennis & wife, Susan, doing his first Halibut & Salmon fishing, and Clam digging. In 2009 he attended a family reunion along with a 2010 family wedding at nephew, Gail & CJ Lacey in Kansas. He enjoyed living with his nephew, Bill and wife, Cindy in MN for a year, enjoying many days on the front porch playing with the cat, dog, chickens, and swatting flies for the baby turkey. Going to his first Air Show of old plane’s, Trashing/Tractor Show, fishing for walleye’s, ice fishing, riding his four-wheeler, Chevy Truck and continuing to enjoy farm life. He had a family reunion at the family farm in 2014 and 2017 with family and friends.

Walter is preceded in death by his parents, George and Icie Lacey, older brother, George King Lacey, and sister, Ellen Cordelia Lacey

Walter is survived by eight nephews and nieces: Dennis Wayne & Susan (Gitchel) Lacey, Kenai, AK; Gail Roger & Claudia “CJ” (Thrasher) Lacey, Kincaid, KS; William Robert & Cindy (Smith) Lacey, Clara City, MN; Brandt Duane & Cindy (Love) Lacey, Iowa Falls, IA; as well as thirteen-great nephews and nieces; and eight-great-great nephews and nieces.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, September 17, at Heckart Funeral Home, with Jeff Page officiating.

Pallbearers will be nephews: Dennis Wayne Lacey, Gail Roger Lacey, William Robert Lacey and Brandt Duane Lacey.

Honorary pallbearers will be great-nephews: Colt Lacey, Levi Lacey, Dal Lacey, Chris Ivy, Chris Lacey, Bryan Lacey, Brandon Lacey, Charles Lacey and Brandon Knobloch.

Burial will be in Salem Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until service time Monday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be given to a memorial to be selected by the family at a later time. Contributions can be given at the funeral home or mailed to Heckart Funeral Home, 903 S. Ohio Ave. Sedalia, MO 65301.