Sue Ruth Page Lacy was born in Burkesville in a small frame house close to the Cumberland River on Dec. 28, 1925. She was the second child of Ovid Page and Wonnie Simpson Page. She was also welcomed into the world by her brother, Johnny Ben Page. The Pages were not wealthy as measured by their bank account, but were exceedingly rich in the areas of work ethic, honesty, and love of God, family and country.
As a child, Sue’s family moved many times so that her father could find work to provide for his family during the hard times of the 1930s. Sue spent her early years in both Cumberland and Clinton counties as well as several communities in Indiana.
Sue graduated from high school while living in New Castle, Ind. She reported working at several jobs including a bakery, a Sears-Roebuck store and as a telephone switchboard operator. Sue’s ultimate ambition was to be a teacher and she set her sights on that goal. She enrolled in Lindsey Wilson College where she met the love of her life, Herbert Lacy. Before they married she taught both in Clinton and Hardin counties.
After she and Herbert married on June 12, 1954, they made their home in Louisville. A little over two years later, Sue gave birth to her only child, Roger Lee Lacy. During this time she helped care for her mother, who was suffering from tuberculosis. She managed to do this as well as to take care of her young child while also teaching in Jefferson County.
After her mother passed away in 1959, she took off a few years from teaching to be a stay-at-home wife and mother. In 1960, the Lacys moved to Frankfort and lived there for about five years. After her son started school, Sue enrolled at Kentucky State University where she completed her baccalaureate degree. She also taught for a while in the Franklin County schools.
In 1965, the Lacys moved to Adair County, which was to remain their final home. Sue taught the majority of her career at Sparksville Grade Center. She obtained her master’s degree in 1972 and retired from teaching in 1990.
Sue loved people and loved helping others. She became a Christian at a young age and joined the Church of the Nazarene when she was 10 years old. She served faithfully in the church in many roles including Sunday school teacher, board member, and Sunday school superintendent. Sue was an active member of the Sparksville Church of the Nazarene for 43 years. She was usually one of the first to volunteer when anything was needed. She demonstrated her love of God in too many other ways to mention here.
As the 1990s approached, Herbert’s health began to fail, and she faithfully took care of him. As his health continued to decline, it was suggested to her several times that it was more than she could handle. That did not slow her resolve at all. She took care of him at home until shortly before he died in 2008.
Shortly after her husband’s death, Sue was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, but managed to function relatively well for a number of years, especially with the care provided by her beloved friend, Terica Derringer. Sue moved into Summit Manor Nursing Home in August 2014 and remained there until her passing on December 16, 2016, just a few days prior to her 91st birthday.
She leaves behind her son, Roger; one nephew, Stephen Page and wife Judy; one niece, Susan Page; several great nephews and nieces; a host of Lacy family members; as well as several cousins and many friends. She is being laid to rest next to her husband in the Fudge Cemetery at Breeding.
While her earthly body lives no more, it is with great comfort to those who love her that she is now whole, happy and with her loved ones who have gone on before.
Funeral service was Tuesday, Dec. 20 at Sparksville Church of the Nazarene with Bro. Lonny Karnes and Mary Ruth Claywell officiating with burial in Fudge Cemetery in Breeding.
Casket bearers were Terica Derringer, Erin Murray, Paul S. McKinney, Larry Furkins, Harry Furkins and Brian Fudge.
Memorials are requested to be in the form of a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association. These may be left at the funeral home.
Grissom-Martin Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Visit www.grissommartin.com.
