Patricia Kathryn Lacy

Fayetteville, AR - Patricia Kathryn McCoy Lacy, 80, of Fayetteville Arkansas passed away peacefully on the afternoon of Monday, August 25th, 2025, at her home in Butterfield Trail Village. Born on January 20th, 1945, in Tyler, Texas, Kate was the daughter of the late Archie Robert "Swede" McCoy and D'Oracy Hale (Hankerson) McCoy. In her youth, Kate was a polio survivor and endured many difficult surgical procedures and long hours of rehab given by her mother. Despite her illness and being told she would never walk, she persevered and became a state champion debater, summer stock director, movie actress, and national physics award recipient. She was raised in a family that valued education, creativity, music, theater, and scientific inquiry -qualities she carried with her throughout her life. A graduate of Alice High School (est. 1887) in Alice, TX, Kate went on to study at the University of Oklahoma and earned a Teacher's Certificate in Education from the University of Texas at Austin. She received a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Education from the University of Arkansas in 1996. Her professional life reflected her love for teaching and guiding young minds to learn great things. She served as an educator most of her life at Southwest Junior High School and George Junior High School in Springdale, Arkansas, where her intelligent approach to the Arts and Sciences touched the lives of 1000's of children and young adults in NW Arkansas and beyond. Whether you had her for Algebra, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Gifted and Talented, English, or Acting, she was every student's favorite teacher. Outside of the classroom, Kate played a pivotal role in establishing the very first community soccer league in Fayetteville. She was a champion team leader at science fairs, Mathletes, and quiz bowl competitions. She produced television spots for high school performances at the local PBS station and summer programs at the planetarium and theater at the University of Arkansas. She successfully campaigned for improved nutrition of school lunches and was a champion for improving handicap access to school buildings throughout northwest Arkansas. The pinnacle of her career was honored with a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching by the National Science Foundation in 2002. In her retirement, her love of books and poetry propelled her into an award-winning career as a poet and together with a group of dear friends, published the Northwest Arkansas Poetry Society monthly compendium for several years. Kate's interests were rich, varied, and steeped in literature. She had a lifelong passion for theatre and performance and was a supporter of all things artistic in nature. Kate loved mystery novels, Dolly Parton songs, and was especially fond of her cat, Sheeba. A proud descendant of American Patriot, Nathan Hale (famous for the "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country" quote), Kate was loyal and devoted to all her friends and family with whom she found deep comfort and inspiration. Kate is survived by her Son George Christopher (Theresa) Gracey and her granddaughter, London Charlotte Bee Gracey of Washington, DC; Her Son Adrian Robert Lacy of Arlington, TX; Her Daughter, Rosie (Greg) Beaman of Alexandria, VA and her granddaughter Gwendolyn Stella Mae Beaman; Her sisters, Molly (Bob) McCoy Tway of San Antonio, TX and Becky (Leith) Quinton and her nephews Luke Quinton and Josh Quinton and niece Cassidy Quinton of St. John's, Newfoundland. She also leaves behind grand-nieces and nephews, loving Friends and caregivers who held a special place in her heart. A celebration of Kate's life will be held at 10 a.m. CDT on Friday, September 12, 2025, in the performance hall of Butterfield Trail Village, 1923 E. Joyce Blvd., Fayetteville, AR 72703 where friends and family are invited to share memories and honor a life well lived.