Daniel Lacey

Daniel Jay “Dan” Lacey, 86, died Sunday, August 8, 2021 at his home in Biloxi, MS. He was a 48-year resident of d’Iberville and Biloxi after being transferred from Tampa, FL to Keesler Air Force Base in June 1973.

Dan was born on April 25, 1935 to Clarence and Ruth (Kube) Lacey at home in Grant County, MN. He was raised on the family farm with his 3 brothers and 2 sisters. His first paying job for 10 cents a day was carrying water to the country school house since there was no running water. He played football, ran track and played trombone in the band at Elbow Lake High School graduating in 1954. He attended Concordia College in Moorhead, MN for one year before enlisting in the United States Air Force. Ultimately he went back to school and earned his bachelor’s degree at age 50 from the University of Southern Mississippi. It was through the Air Force that he was stationed in Aiken, SC and would meet his bride to be, Rebecca “Becky” Barnes. They were married on October 3, 1959.

Dan served 41 years in the Air Force, 21 years of active duty and 20 years in civil service. He retired from active duty as a Master Sergeant and earned a Bronze Star for his service in the Vietnam. During his civil service he was an instructor and supervisor retiring as a GS-12. During the short time between active duty and the start of his civil service, he started his own business, Lacey Pest Control. It ended up being a family affair with Becky doing the books and the first job for each of his 3 children…thankfully at more than 10 cents a day! He enjoyed his pest control business so much, and more specifically his loyal customers, that he owned it for 38 years until finally retiring in April 2016 only because his health slowed him down.

His hobbies included reading, watching sports – primarily baseball and football on TV and also whatever sport his kids or grandchildren were playing, buying tools, and vegetable gardening which included giving many bags of tomatoes and cucumbers away over the years. He never met a stranger and would strike up a conversation with anyone and anywhere...at a ballfield, restaurant, store or church.

Most important was his faith in his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He accepted Christ at Lawrence Presbyterian Church when he was in grade school. He was a member at First Baptist Church of Biloxi for 40 years before helping to start Parkway Baptist Church in 2013. He served as a deacon and on numerous committees. Along with Becky, he taught 4-year olds in Sunday School for over 25 years. Dan enjoyed creating craft projects to help the children learn lessons from the Bible. He exemplified serving through action and would willingly volunteer his time on any work project at church or someone’s home when needed.

He was preceded in death by his parents Clarence and Ruth Lacey; oldest brother Gerald Lacey; and brothers-in-law Don Johnson and Obert Houg.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years Rebecca “Becky” (Barnes) Lacey; children, Wanda Graves (Walter) of Seguin, TX, Mark Lacey (Gina) of Jacksonville, FL and Bruce Lacey (Rebecca) of Saucier, MS; grandchildren Angela Graves Rimmer, Elisabeth Graves, T.J. Graves, David Graves, Ashlyn Lacey, Ethan Lacey, Lucas Lacey, Jonah Lacey and Nathan Lacey; sisters, Dixie Johnson of Detroit Lakes, MN, Mary Houg of West Fargo, ND; sister-in-law Clarice Lacey of Fergus Falls, MN; brothers Bill Lacey (Janet) of Kerrville, TX and Jack Lacey (Sharon) of Fergus Falls, MN.

The celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, August 14, 2021 at 11:00 AM at Parkway Baptist Church, 17284 Highway 67, in Woolmarket. The visitation will begin at 10:00 AM until the start of the service. There will be a private graveside service at Biloxi National Cemetery at a later date.  The service will be live streamed.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for those inclined to honor Dan’s memory by donating to one of the following organizations in his name:

Gulf Coast Rescue Mission, P. O. Box 4531, Biloxi, MS 39535-4531 or

Parkway Baptist Church, 17284 Highway 67, Biloxi, MS 39532 or online at https://onrealm.org/ParkwayBaptistC/-/give/now designated to the building fund.