Clarence A. Lacey

Obituary
CLARENCE A. LACEY
RICHFORD - Clarence A. Lacey, 87, a lifelong resident of Richford, passed away on June 8, 2003. He is known for his zest for life, love of his family, respect for nature's treasures and a smile he had for all he met. Clarence was born on July 18, 1915 to Bessie Barnes and James S. Lacey of Richford.He is survived by his wife and loving partner of 62 years, Mary Goodrich Lacey. He was a devoted father and character model for Joanne Carpenter of Richford, Jim (Susan) Lacey of Berkshire, Susan (Jim) Lacey Williams of Charlemont, MA, Peg Lacey of Ithaca, Helen (Glenn) Lacey Crane of Sierra Vista, AZ, and Randy (Diane Gerhart) Lacey of Freeville. Grandchildren include Andrew, David and Christopher Carpenter, Dan Lacey, Jennifer and Amanda Williams, Tina Lacey, Alex and Levi Crane, Sam and Forrest Lacey. Great-grandchildren are Hunter, Brent and Logan Carpenter, Aidan and Elliot Gougeon. Surviving siblings are June Conway, Wilbur Lacey, Gerald (Jean) Lacey, Donald (Virginia) Lacey, Ann (Philip) Barden and Lawrence (Zora) Lacey.He was predeceased by his son-in-law, Lynn Carpenter; grandchild, Abigail Williams; sisters, Norma Grimes, Dorla Zeh; sister-in-law, Jean Goodrich Lacey; and brother-in-law, Thomas Conway.Clarence has been honored by many civic organizations for a lifetime of dedication and service. He served as both a councilman and a planning board member for the Town of Richford. He was a founding commissioner of the Richford Fire Department and served as commissioner from 1946 - 2000. He was recognized by the Tioga County Fire Service for "50 Years of Dedicated Service Award," by the Richford Fire Dept. for "Lifetime Commitment to Dedication and Service Award" and "Honorary Outstanding Member." Clarence served as the Richford town historian from 1965 until 2002, received the honor of "Outstanding Historian 1997" from the Assoc. of Municipal Historians of NYS and was a contributing author to the history of Tioga County, Seasons of Change, 1990. He received the Newark Valley Alumni Assoc. "Outstanding Citizen Award 1999" and the American Legion Community Service Award in 2002. Clarence was a diligent caretaker of the Highland Cemetery for 60 years and was president of that association for much of that time.Clarence accepted a job as highway maintenance foreman for NYSDOT in 1939 and cared for 40 miles of state highway for the next 35 years. He was well known by those who traveled through northern Tioga County for his personal dedication to their safety and the condition of that highway. He always had kind words for those who needed his service and demonstrated an outstanding work ethic every day of his life.Expressions of sympathy can be made to the Highland Cemetery Association (memo: Clarence A. Lacey Memorial Fund), 496 Route 79, Richford, NY 13835.Visitation will be on Thursday, June 12, from 6 to 9 p.m., and a Service of Remembrance will be held on Friday, June 13, at 12 Noon at MacPherson Funeral Home, Newark Valley, NY.