He is preceded in death by his first wife, June Ozarowski, daughter Natalie Smith, brother, George Trenholm Lacy, and parents George and Virginia Miller Lacy. He is survived by his second wife, Mary Ellen Culver; daughters Dianna (Dave) Paterline and Alison (Richard) Alka; son-in-law, John Smith; grandsons Nick and Jon Paterline and Andrew and Chris Alka. He maintained close relations with his extended families on the East and West Coasts.
David graduated from Central High School in St. Joseph and went on to the University of Missouri, where he received a degree in Journalism in 1954. He was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity. He served in the US Army, attended Airborne school, and achieved the rank of First Lieutenant. He was stationed in Darmstadt, Germany between 1957 and 1959 and traveled around Europe at every opportunity.
David’s early career began in broadcast journalism in Kewanee, IL (WKEI); Hannibal, MO (KHMO); Kansas City, MO (KMBC-TV); and Dallas, TX (WFAA-TV). He returned to Hannibal in 1963 to serve as Director of the Northeast Missouri Industrial Council and later as the president of the Hannibal Chamber of Commerce. In St. Louis, he was on the St. Louis Industrial Development Council. He held positions in commercial development with the Linclay Corporation between 1969 and 1986 in St. Louis and as Director of their Kansas City office. He has been affiliated with Universal Properties, Cohen Esrey Properties, and most recently with Van Trust Real Estate until his retirement in 2014. With his own company, David M. Lacy Associates, he was a consultant and independent contractor.
David was a devotee of the arts; he regularly attended multiple Kansas City theaters and the Symphony. He loved traveling, museums and galleries, sporting events, golf and boating, his evening Manhattan, fine dining, reading books and newspapers, and being with his family. He was fiercely loyal, direct but kind, and was known for his resonant bass/baritone voice. He was much loved and will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by his family and friends.
A gathering for the Celebration of David’s Life will be held on the afternoon of September 6 beginning at 1:00. Location will be at the Tuileries Clubhouse on Glenwood Street and 107th Street in Overland Park.
