Obituary
Jay Arthur Lacy, 87, passed away due to cardiac arrest on Thursday, December 3, 2020, in The Villages, Florida.
Jay was born December 5, 1932, in Orrville, OH, the son of Wanda Steiner Lacy and John Arthur Lacy.
After graduating from Orrville High School in 1950, Jay joined the Navy and proudly served his country as a Marine Corpsman during the Korean War. Following his military service, he attended Ashland University, where he met the former Marlene Spotts. They married in 1957 and recently celebrated 63 years of marriage. Jay graduated with a B.S. degree in Education and later attended Kent State University for his M.S. degree in History (1967).
Jay returned to Orrville to teach and to coach baseball, basketball, and football from 1959 – 1965, when he and Marlene moved to Warren, OH, where he taught and coached at Warren G. Harding High School. During that time, he shared his love of American history with his students and initiated the class “Jay Walk”, a walking tour of Warren’s Millionaire’s Row. He also taught ABE courses in golf and furniture refinishing. He became Athletic Faculty Manager for the WGH Panthers, serving in that capacity until his retirement from WCS in June 1988. In 1973, he was named an honorary Kentucky Colonel and was a 2016 inductee of the Warren Sports Hall of Fame.
Jay was a member of the board of directors of Warren Rotary and was in charge of foreign exchange students. He was past-president of Trumbull County Coaches Association; on the board of directors for NE Ohio Athletic Administrators; and a lifetime member of NEA, NEOTA, OEA, and Trumbull Retired Teachers Association. He was a member of the Mahoning Valley Civil War Roundtable and was often a guest speaker on Civil War topics. Prior to re-locating to Florida, he was an active member of the First United Methodist Church; he was a current member of Community United Methodist Church in Fruitland Park, FL.
In his spare time, Jay enjoyed golfing, watching the Browns and Indians, and refinishing furniture. He especially loved the 50+ summers he spent on Drummond Island, MI and the many lasting friendships he made there.
Preceding him in death were his parents and two brothers, John Riley Lacy and James Dudley Lacy.
Surviving are his wife, Marlene; daughter, Jana (Chris) Rahrig of Trumbull, CT; son, John (Teri) Lacy of Warren, OH; twin grand-daughters, Anna Lacy and Kathryn Lacy; great-grandson, Cashton John Arthur Lacy; sister-in-law, Mary Lacy; sister-in-law, Anita Bell; brother-in-law, Lowell (Karen) Spotts; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, December 31, 2020, at 10 a.m. at the Community United Methodist Church in Fruitland Park. Due to COVID-19, health safety restrictions will be observed. The service may be viewed live at https://cumcfp.online.church/ Interment will be in Florida National Cemetery, a military site in Bushnell, Florida.
The family respectfully requests that any monetary donations be made in Jay’s name to the Warren City Schools Foundation, 105 High Street, Warren, OH 44481, for the creation of a scholarship in his name; to the Community United Methodist Church, 309 College Avenue, Fruitland Park, FL 34731; or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Arrangements were entrusted to Baldwin Brothers Funeral Home of Spanish Springs, FL.
He was a great friend of my fathers and I was fortunate to have known the Lacys for 63 years.
I'll never forget as a young boy mowing lawns. It was coach Lacy's lawn that I couldn't use my power mower. Coach's lawn required me to use his 1920 rotary model. His grass had to be cut like a putting green. I think he practiced out there and if he missed any putts i would need to cut the grass again.
I'll never forget all the coaches meetings. They always had such a good time! I think that's why they loved to coach Football,Baseball, Basketball,and Golf. Just so the could meet year around.
Coach Lacy has always been in my life and will always be in my heart.
R.I.P COACH
You were my favorite person to share a golf cart with on Wednesdays.
You were a patient golf COACH. I’m sorry I was not a better student.
I will miss our friendly and thought provoking conversations.
God Bless you.
Steve Jasper
You were always my favorite person to share a golf cart with on Wednesdays.
You were a patient COACH. I’m sorry I was not a better golf student.
I will miss our thoughtful and meaningful conversations.
God bless
Steve Jasper