Jim Cleve "J.C." Lacey, the son of the late Jesse and Fannie Marler Lacey, was born in Charter Oak on April 19, 1930, and died at the Westwood Hill Health Care Center in Poplar Bluff on Wednesday, May 16, 2007, at the age of 77.

He had lived in Essex most of his life. He was a retired truck driver with the Malone and Hyde Company. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

On Dec. 30, 1968, he was married to Ruthie Ross. She preceded him in death on April 8, 2002.

Surviving are one son, Tim Lacey of Essex; three daughters, Karen Auner of Ironton, Susan Coleman of Poplar Bluff, and Rebekah Williams of LaBelle, Fla.; one step-son, Eddie Blackwell of Houston, Texas; 13 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two brothers, Lester Lacey of Salem, Ore., and Ernie Lacey of Mesa, Ariz.; three sisters, Mary VanHook of Salem, Ore., Lois Thomson of Oshkosh, Wis., and Kathy Million of Savannah, Tenn.

He was preceded in death by a brother in infancy.

Visitation will be held after 1 p.m. Saturday, May 19, 2007, at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Dexter.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at the Watkins & Sons Chapel in Dexter with the Rev. Dennis Ward of Poplar Bluff officiating.

Interment will be in the Essex Cemetery with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Dexter in charge of arrangements.