Phyllis Lobue Lacey

Beloved wife, mother, and grandmother Phyllis LoBue Lacey passed away on Sunday, January 9, 2011 at her home in Shell Beach, California, surrounded by family and friends following a three year battle with breast cancer. She was 62 years young. Phyllis was born in June, 1948 in Woodlake, California, the youngest of three children and only daughter of Fred and Mary (Gallina) LoBue. She attended Woodlake schools, graduating from High School in 1966 and then continuing her education at College of the Sequoias and Fresno State University where she completed a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature. In 1971 she married Ronald Lacey, also a Fresno State graduate. They settled first in Chula Vista, California, where Phyllis earned her lifetime teaching credential for the State of California and became an elementary school teacher. The couple later moved to the Sacramento area as Ron pursued his career in law enforcement with the Federal government; there, Phyllis put aside her career to focus on her two daughters, Kiera Marie, born in 1974, and Monica Leighanne, born in 1977. In 1980 she moved to Porterville when her husband became involved with the LoBue Brothers family citrus business. As her children grew, Phyllis became deeply involved with activities at St. Anne's School in Porterville, including the Home and School Association; this became an avocation that continued long after her children graduated. She also devoted a great deal of time to St. Anne's Church, including the Women's Altar Society and numerous other groups and committees such as the Architectural Committee for Porterville's new Holy Cross Church. Phyllis was a natural expert in organizational financial management and often served as treasurer of a group or committee. She was always willing to welcome into her home groups from the church and school in need of a place for a meeting, party, or other function. Phyllis and her husband moved full-time to Shell Beach in 2004 and pursued the area's many wonderful "semi-retirement" activities. Both in Porterville and Shell Beach, Phyllis was an active member of the P.E.O. sisterhood, a philanthropic organization that works to support education for young women around the world. She was an avid bridge player and belonged to many clubs in the Pismo area. Phyllis especially enjoyed family trips to Lake Tahoe, Hawaii, and other places. Her strength in logic and mastery of numbers meant that she could often delight in winnings from a few rounds of blackjack, a game she learned to enjoy with her mother. As a young woman, Phyllis learned to play the piano and would often play beautiful songs from memory. In addition she was an excellent tennis player and taught her daughters how to play as well. Among her favorite pastimes was enjoying the sunsets at Eldwayen Ocean Park and socializing with her many friends in the area and from the valley. Phyllis was known for her radiant smile and positive demeanor. She was a true and loyal friend, always willing to lend a hand, and never spoke negatively of anyone. She lived each day in accordance with her strong Catholic convictions of faith, hope and love. Her example remains an inspiration to her family and the many friends who loved her dearly. Phyllis is survived by Ronald Lacey, her husband of 39 years, and by her daughters, Kiera (Kalub) Emmons and Monica (Ken) Seiber, grandchildren Charles Oak Emmons (born in 2007) and Abigail Rose Seiber, (born in late 2010) and her brother, Fred (Donna) LoBue of Visalia along with a niece and several nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Mary LoBue and brother, Richard. Services are set for Saturday, January 22, 2011 at 10:00am at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Pismo Beach. Visitation at the church will be held beginning at 4:00pm on Friday, January 21, followed by a recitation of the Holy Rosary at 6:00pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Saint Anne's Catholic School, 385 North F Street Porterville, CA 93257-3544 or to Hospice Partners of the Central Coast, 277 South Street, Suite R, San Luis Obispo, CA 93101.