In Memory

Phillips Lacy - Class Of 1963

Phillips Lacy

Feb 11, 1945 - Nov 2, 2021  


Phillips Lacy, born in Waynesboro, Virginia on February 11, 1945 to Mary-Paul Phillips Lacy and Milo G. Lacy, Jr., went to be with his Lord and Savior on November 2, 2021, in Round Rock, Texas.

His family moved to Newport Beach, California in 1953 and then to Claremont, California in 1961 where he graduated from Claremont High School in 1963. He attended Chaffey Junior College before graduating from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon in 1967 with a degree in Political Science where he was a member and president of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He earned a Masters of International Management at the American Graduate School of International Management in Glendale, Arizona in 1975. In 1976 he began working for Union Carbide Corporation in Long Beach, California, New York City and then in Houston, Texas. In 1983, he started his career in church business administration, working for Christ Church Cathedral (Episcopal) Houston, First Presbyterian Church Houston, the Presbytery of New Covenant Houston and First United Methodist Church Lubbock. During his church career he was a founding member of the Houston Church Co-op.

Serving others was his life-long passion. He served as a Peace Corp volunteer in Western Samoa from 1967 through 1969. He earned a Masters of Education and taught in the Compton Unified School District for three years, and in Germany for the Department of the Army for two years. As a member of Grace Presbyterian Church Houston, Phil participated in more than a dozen mission trips with his sons to the Appalachian Mountains and Mexico during their youth group and college years. After retiring in Lubbock in 2011 he was an active volunteer at the South Plains Food Bank and the FUMC soup kitchen, receiving the Hunger Hero of the Year Award for his work. In 2015 he moved to Georgetown, Texas and began volunteering in the food pantry at The Caring Place. Phil was an active elder at San Gabriel Presbyterian Church and, among many other mission activities, he was in charge of the church’s Pumpkin Patch.

Phil is survived by his wife of 49 years, Melinda Anderson Lacy, his son Brian Phillips Lacy (wife CJ) of Cullman, Alabama and son Andrew Lloyd Lacy (wife Erin) of Pinehurst, Texas; grandsons Aiden Anderson Lacy of Pinehurst, John Phillips Lacy and Mack Anderson Lacy of Cullman; granddaughters Emma Grace Lacy, Abigail Joy Lacy, Brynleigh Faith Lacy and Shelby Kate Lacy of Pinehurst. He is also survived by his sister Mary-Ellis Lacy Adams (husband Phil) of Berkeley, California and other in-laws, nephews, and cousins. He is predeceased by his parents and his brother Charles Stewart Lacy.

A memorial service will be held at San Gabriel Presbyterian Church at 2 p.m. on November 6, 2021, followed by interment in the columbarium at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Phil’s name to the food pantry at The Caring Place, 2000 Railroad Ave, Georgetown, TX 78626 or to the Legacy Fund at San Gabriel Presbyterian Church, 5404 Williams Dr., Georgetown, TX 78633



 
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11/04/21 03:48 PM #1    

Daniel Schafer (1963)

I knew that Phil was fighting prostate cancer but was surprised and sadden when his wife Melinda called me last night to tell me he had died.  Phil and I have stayed in touch since CHS and lately when I’d ask him how he was doing; he’d always say the chemo was working and he was feeling “okay”.  But I should have known, Phil wouldn’t want to worry or put his problems on someone else.

Unlike a good many of us Class of ’63 kids who were together (whether we liked it or not!) from kindergarten through high school, Phil joined my little social circle in our junior year at CHS when his family moved to Claremont.  I suppose it mostly had to do with the fact that several of us lived close together and we could walk the few blocks along Berkeley Ave. or Indian Hill Blvd. to and from to CHS.  The other fact was, we all got along.  We certainly weren’t the cool kids, but we were mostly good kids who did our due diligence in the classroom, were a little shy around the girls and enjoyed finding outdoor adventure in and around our wonderful little town of Claremont.   

Although shy around the girls, we certainly talked about them and even interacted with them but usually in a group situation.  As a boy/girl group, we’d go to Disneyland, the beach, to CHS games and after game dances…that took the pressure off as we weren’t really dating, were we?  Since Phil was a tall thin guy, he was naturally on the basketball team and we always went watch him.  I remember one time at an away game there was limited seating so classmate and cheerleader Flo Peairs “had” to sit on his lap when she got tired!  Phil talked about that for a long time!

We road raced up and down Mt. Baldy Road, drove up the San Gabriel Mountain Range firebreaks until we couldn’t go any further, skateboarded the Baldy dam spillway/flood control channels almost to Pomona, body surfed and snorkeled at Laguna Beach, had water balloon fights with other CHS hooligans…really too many things to list here.  Years later we all agreed it was a blast growing up in Claremont.

Phil was probably nicest kid of our group, certainly the most religious. He was very involved with his church both spiritually and with its activities. It wasn’t surprising as he had a great mother and father.  His dad was a professor at Cal Poly, Pomona and his mom was the first Southern Lady I’d ever met.  She had a wonderful Virginia accent and a ready smile.  I think that anyone who had contact with her learned what “genteel” meant.  He had a younger brother (Stewart) and sister (Mary Ellis).

Although we’ve kept in touch, I haven’t seen Phil much over the years since he moved out of state, but whenever he came to Southern California, he’d contact me and we’d meet for lunch at the nearest In-N-Out Burger…a double treat for both of us!    

Well Phil, thanks for the many great memories of growing up with you, I miss you already.      Dan


11/05/21 08:19 AM #2    

Wesley Hurd (Wes Hurd) (1963)

I am deeply saddened to hear of Phil's passing. He and I ran in different "circles" in Jr. hi and at CHS even though we lived only a couple of houses apart on 7th street. But in recent years we reconnected and shared thoughts occasionally. I feel the loss.  


11/13/21 06:23 AM #3    

Florence Patricia Peairs (Adams) (1963)

Thank you, Danny, for sharing your thoughtful and moving memories of Phil.  I was deeply touched (and amused!) by the description of the cheerleader antics and I confess that if my ears weren't burning back then, they are definitely burning now! 

Phil led an exemplary life of service to others.  His "quiet conscience" truly made him strong. 

Florence


07/11/22 12:55 PM #4    

Mary-Ellis Lacy (Adams) (1972)

I discovered this picture among my brother's mementos after he died last November. Phil is in the center and John Firman is to the right. I don't know who is on the left. Such a sweet photo. The promise of youth!


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