Francis Neil Lacey, 87, of Jonesville, SC, formerly of Palmer, died Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2019, at his residence.
Visitation will be held Monday, Aug. 19, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Sutton Memorial Home in Taylorville.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Aug. 20, at 10 a.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Chad Foster officiating. Interment will be held in Anderson Cemetery in Palmer.
Mr. Lacey was born July 4, 1932, in Arthur, to Ruby Opal (Gibson) and Clyde Oscar Lacey. He married JoAnn Christian on Feb. 18, 1957, in Hernando, MI, and she preceded him in death in December 2017.
After graduating from Arthur High School in 1950, he enlisted into the United States Navy. His enlistment encompassed the time period of the Korean War. After being honorably discharged, he returned to central Illinois.
After he and his wife were married, they moved to Palmer and purchased a service station. The station became a cornerstone of this small community, which they owned and operated over 40 years . This business was not only a service station, but a coffee shop, restaurant and automotive repair facility, where the world's issues were discussed over a ten cent cup of coffee.
He moved to various locations after retiring, including Colorado, Tennessee and South Carolina.
He and his wife raised three children, their oldest Cynthia Kay South, who lives with her husband, Gary South, in Jonesville, SC, and they have two children, Jason and Dustin Tull, who also live in South Carolina. Jason and his wife, Dawn,have two children, and Dustin and his wife, Lacey, have two children. Their second child, Brian Scott Lacey and his wife, Jodi, live in Fort Collins, CO, and they have three children, Chance, Brianna and Addison. Their youngest child, Bradley Neil Lacey and his wife, Sheila, live in Monroe, TN.
In addition to his parents and his wife of 61 years, he was preceded in death by four brothers, Bill, Vern, Ross and Morris (half-brother); and one sister, Shirley.
Memorials may be made to the Leslie-Reddick American Legion Post #721 at 607 Rick St. Morrisonville, IL 62546.
Online condolences may be left at www.suttonmemorialhome.com.
