Mary A. Lacy

October 10, 1936 - August 15, 2026

A remarkable legacy of love, faith, family, education, creativity, and service.

Mary Alice Sanchez Lacy, 89, passed away on August 15, 2026, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of love, faith, family, education, creativity, and service. Mary lived a full and meaningful life as a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, educator, mentor, community leader, artist, and friend.

Early Life and Education

Mary was born on October 10, 1936, in Texas, the eldest of six children. Her childhood was marked by perseverance. When she was still a young girl, her father, who served in the United States Army, was killed in action in Germany in March 1945. Her mother was left to raise six young children, and as the eldest, Mary learned early responsibility, strength, and determination that would become hallmarks of her life.

After her family moved to El Paso, Texas, Mary attended Austin High School, where she excelled in tennis and became an outstanding city-wide player. She continued her education at Texas Western College, now The University of Texas at El Paso, where she graduated before beginning what would become a distinguished 32-year career in education.

Career in Education and Leadership

Mary became a high school teacher and coach in El Paso and married her husband, Steve Lacy, the same year. The longest chapter of her career was spent at Riverside High School, where she taught health, served as Student Activities Director, and chaired the Health Education Department. She believed deeply in young people and had a special ability to encourage, challenge, and help them recognize their own potential.

At Riverside, Mary founded the Rangerettes, a 55-member girls' performing drill team that went on to perform at several Sun Bowls, the Fiesta Bowl, Disneyland, and other venues.

Her work was honored by the governors of New Mexico, Texas, and two sitting United States Presidents.

Mary was also a pioneer in addressing important issues facing young people. She developed programs in sex education and drug awareness that were ultimately used statewide. In 1979, she was named Teacher of the Year for the Ysleta Independent School District, and in 1985, Texas Governor Mark White appointed her to the Texas Juvenile Justice Project Advisory Committee.

Service, Faith, and Community

Retirement did little to slow Mary's desire to serve. She went on to serve for several years as Director of Youth Leadership Programs for the El Paso YWCA. She worked tirelessly with the Alzheimer's Association in Texas and served on its State Board in New Mexico. Her contributions were recognized throughout her life, including her induction into the El Paso Women's Hall of Fame in 1997, recognition by the Girl Scouts as an outstanding woman of Las Cruces, and being named a Riverside High School Legend in 2020.

Faith and service were important parts of Mary's life. In El Paso, she served her church as a deaconess, elder, and youth sponsor. After moving to Las Cruces, she became active at University United Methodist Church, where she helped establish a partnership with University Hills Elementary School, served as an interpreter for the church food pantry, and prepared meals at a local soup kitchen.

Creativity and the Mary Her Family Loved

Mary also had a creative spirit and became an accomplished painter, studying under several talented artists and finding another way to express her appreciation for beauty and life.

But Mary's life cannot be measured simply by the positions she held, the awards she received, or the organizations she served. The Mary her family knew and loved was also the woman who loved to dance, always appreciated fresh flowers, and enjoyed a good cup of coffee. She could look through a refrigerator filled with odds and ends and somehow turn yesterday's leftovers into a wonderful meal. She loved to travel and experience the world, and Spain held a special place in her heart as her favorite overseas destination.

She believed deeply in the importance of staying connected. Mary loved to sit down and write a personal note by hand or send a card to let someone know she was thinking of them. Those small gestures were simply part of the way Mary loved people.

Family

Above all, Mary cherished her family. She was the proud mother of three children, grandmother of nine, and great-grandmother of four. She was a loving sister and a treasured friend. Her family was at the heart of her life, and the lessons she taught extended far beyond any classroom.

Mary believed in working hard, persevering through adversity, caring for others, and using whatever gifts you had to make someone's life a little better. She had a gift for turning ordinary moments into opportunities to teach, encourage, laugh, love, and inspire. Her family will remember the extraordinary woman who accomplished so much, but they will also remember the everyday things that made her simply Mary.

Survived By

Husband: Stephen S. Lacy

Children: Sam Lacy (Brenda), Linda Lacy (Vernoy Walker), and John Lacy (Angela)

Grandchildren: Dustin Smith (Jessie), Lindsey Lacy, Katie Lacy Rix (John), Austin Walker (Devonna), Will Walker, Rachel Walker (Reed Clemmons), Spencer Lacy (Isabella), Turner Lacy, and Marlo Lacy

Great-grandchildren: Cody, Kennedy, Eleanor, and Jason

Siblings: Ray, Joe, Tina, Gracie, and their families

Preceded in Death By

Mary was preceded in death by her mother, Ofelia; her father, Raymond; and her sister, Eloise.

Closing Remembrance

Mary Alice Sanchez Lacy was an extraordinary woman whose love and influence live on in her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, family, friends, former students, and the countless people whose lives are better because she was part of them.

She will always be deeply loved, dearly missed and remembered for generations to come.