James R. "Jim" Lacey
July 31, 1949 ~ September 11, 2023
James Richard “Jim” Lacey, 74, Indianapolis, passed away September 11, 2023. Jim was born July 31, 1949, in Terre Haute, Indiana, to the late Robert Dale and Betty Jacqueline (Gilbert) Lacey.
He graduated from North Central High School, near Sullivan, and attended Indiana State University. Jim worked at Cornelius Printing for more than 20 years and more recently worked for a few tool & die shops, a job that he thoroughly enjoyed. When his sons were growing up, he volunteered as a scout master. A true dog lover, Jim loved to show dogs, and was especially fond of chows, huskies, and pit bulls. An accomplished guitarist, he was musically inclined from an early age. Jim was a true music lover, always with a song on his mind, he was especially fond of the older classics. He was also an avid reader and spent lots of time at the library. The constant jokester, you could count on Jim to always keep the mood light. His memory will be forever cherished for caring and kind nature.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Matthew Gilbert Lacey; sister, Patricia Guess; stepdaughter, Deseree Evans.
Survivors include his wife of 26 years, Arthella (Baldwin) Lacey; son, Brian Lacey; brothers, Robert (Claudette) Lacey and Gary (Carolyn) Lacey; stepchildren, Steven Center, Daniel Center, and Shannon Beecher; 8 grandchildren.
Visitation will not be observed. The graveside service will begin at 1 p.m., Monday, September 18, 2023, in Memorial Park Cemetery. O’Riley – Branson Funeral Service & Crematory is serving the family. Visit www.ORileyBranson.com to share a favorite memory or to sign the online guest registry.
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My dear Brother. I will miss our conversations about favorite Blues musicians and other topics. You suffered so much the past year. Rest in peace.
Robert Lacey
So sorry for your loss I remember going to the dog shows with them and the zoo .Jim was a uncle that I spent every summer as a kid with and enjoyed the time we had together. After the divorce I didn’t stay in contact with and I regret that tremendously. Rest In Peace uncle Jim I will always have a place in my heart for you
PS would love to hear from Brian
I couldn’t possibly enumerate the many, many things I will miss about my father. He bought me my first guitar and encouraged me to learn.
When he was gone to work, I would secretly try to emulate his guitar playing, because I was too embarrassed to ask him how to play blues music, because I didn’t think it was cool.
We used to banter for hours about which actors and actresses were in what other movies and compare performances, because we had both seen the same movies so many times.
He was friends with John Hammond Jr., who would call him when he would be playing at the Slippery Noodle.
Due to his extensive knowledge of blues music history, he was the original editor for the Indianapolis Blues Society newsletter, before they were Blues Society of Indiana.
He played the most convincing Mark Twain for a local book club organization for their 'Ghost Writer Evening' on several occasions.
He would recite Yukon poetry at our campouts for both Cub Scouts and, later, Boy Scouts, titles like 'The Cremation of Sam McGhee' or 'The Ballad of Blasphemous Bill'.
He was probably the most frustrating driving instructor, but I am a safer driver as a result even today
He did not play the political correctness game.
He learned how to play, and write his own, Dungeons and Dragons campaigns, and hosted regular games with others from the neighborhood.
He introduced me to the writings of Christopher Moore, which I continue to enjoy to this day.
He originally marginalized my messianic faith, until God brought him onboard as well, and we shared many weeks of fellowship, bible study and terrific music. So he was never too old to learn something new, and he recognized that in himself and others
As a child we took many trips to the zoo, where he would always do his scary ghost sounds during the tunnel section of the miniature train ride.
He taught me to read at a very early age, and made sure I was years above my classmates in school when it came to reading.
He would call out injustice or error when the opportunity arose, when everyone else would be too busy being polite to do so.
There are so many more memories that, if I were to write them all, I would have time for nothing else. He will be missed by many, which is still just a very small percentage of so many more lives he had affected. He was not a perfect father or husband, but a damn sight better than most. The world would be better off with more men like him, and it will be worse off with him not in it. The memories we carry forward will have to suffice.
I first met Jim when I began working at the Garfield Park Library in 2015. He quickly became one of my favorite library patrons. I was constantly in awe of his knowledge of music, musicians, authors, movies and actors and enjoyed our conversations. Jim would often call the branch to check on his library holds and to ask for us to look up his next desired book, CD, movie, or t.v. series. All of the staff here loved answering these calls! I enjoyed the occasional quest Jim would pose, like to find certain lyrics or the history of a particular song. These I would print out and tuck into a book awaiting his arrival on the hold shelves. When we didn’t have a certain CD, I’d sometimes offer to get him on a computer in the lab to hear the musician play it on a YouTube video, but he always declined; computers not being his thing. He did enjoy the library’s Interlibrary Loan program through which we often got books that were not available from IndyPL.
Jim’s distinctive voice, humor, good-nature and book, music and movie recommendations will be missed by all of us here at Garfield Park Library! My thoughts are with you, and family. May he rest in peace!
We will miss you here at DaVita Marion, County, Dialysis, rest in peace