William (Bill) Francis Lacey was born to Allen McCormick and Ester Louise Wyatt at the Saint Ignatius Hospital on Easter Sunday, Apr 8th, 1928 and died on Jun 21st, 2016 of natural causes.

His father, Allen, came to Colfax at the age of 4 in 1893 and graduated from the University of Washington in Journalism in 1913. He bought the Colfax Commoner in the mid-1920s and merged it with the Colfax Gazette in 1932 where he was part owner, publisher, and editor until he sold paper in 1948.
In 1953, Bill married to his high school sweetheart Ilene Louise Olsen and had three children Cindi Louise Pederson of Vancouver, WA, Allen Edward Lacey of Gilbert, AZ , and Kelly Francis Nichols of Baker City, OR.

Bill graduated in 1946 from Colfax High school where he was a key member of the basketball team which won the won state championship his senior year. Amazingly, he also held the school record for 100 yard dash from 1946 until 1964—almost 20 years.

After volunteering, he was inducted into the Navy on Christmas Eve 1950; where he served aboard the Cruiser USS Rochester with his brother Robert Louis Lacey as a personnel man for Executive Officer. While serving, Bill spent two tours in the Combat Zone during the Korean Conflict.
He was Honorably discharged in Sep 1954 and proceeded to earn a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education in 1956 from Central Washington State College. Immediately following graduation, he was hired by the Vancouver School District where he taught Social Studies and English at various Junior High Schools.

In 1967 he left teaching to pursue a Doctorate of Education where he taught several summer sessions to future educators and graduated in 1970 from the University of Oregon. Upon receiving his Doctorate, Bill was hired by Willamette University. After teaching there for one year, he was hired by Central Washington State College as a Supervisor of Student teachers, working remotely in Vancouver, WA. Two years later, he moved to Yakima, WA in the same capacity and held that position until retirement in 1986 as a Professor Emeritus. For several years after retirement he continued to teach off campus Master's Degree courses through Heritage College.

Starting in 1992 he spent 16 winters in Casa Grande, AZ, volunteering at the local High School and playing golf.

He was proceeded in death by his father, mother, and brother. He is survived by his wife, children, seven grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.
He will be remembered as a friend to all, a jokester, and accomplished story teller. We are certain that he is telling stories to the Angels and anyone else who will listen.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Northern Idaho Hospice (www.hospiceofnorthidaho.org) or a hospice organization of your choice.

A graveside service will be held at the Colfax Cemetery on Sunday, July 3, 2016 at 11:00 a.m.