Mary Ina DeLacey

Mary Ina DeLacey, age 88, of Owensboro died Wednesday, November 5, at her home following a brief illness. Born November 18, 1919, in the family home near Habit, Ky., she was the daughter of the late Paul Taylor and Zada Bristow Camp. Mrs. DeLacey graduated from Daviess County High School in 1938 and attended Western Kentucky University where she played trumpet in the marching band. Married to the late Colonel William Howard DeLacey, she lived in Texas, Louisiana, Virginia, Tennessee, Berlin, Germany, and Lisbon, Portugal during her husband's military career. She raised her first two children during WW II while then Lt. Col. DeLacey served in India. After WWII, she lived with her husband and two children in Berlin, Germany, until the blockade of Berlin caused the evacuation of allied wives and children. She and her family lived in Lisbon, Portugal for 3 years during which time her husband served as an advisor to the Portuguese Air Force.

She moved home to Owensboro from Smyrna, Tennessee following the death of Col. DeLacey in 1967, and devoted her life to raising her four youngest children. Mrs. DeLacey finished her degree in Elementary Education at Kentucky Wesleyan College, which she began while a student at Western. Mary continued her education throughout her life by taking college classes including Spanish, computer literacy, and completed a course in music appreciation just last year. She participated in the Elder Hostel program which involved traveling to various universities and taking short courses on a variety of topics. Mary Ina also served on the Family Resource Council at the Owensboro Schools 5-6 Center.

She was a member of Owensboro Country Club and enjoyed playing bridge at the club, as well as golf with her friends in the Women' Nine Hole group. Mrs. DeLacey was an avid traveler, who often visited her six children and 15 grandchildren at their homes across the county. She belonged to the Gold Star wives and participated in the Berlin Airlift reunions and the Smyrna Air Force Base 314th Troop Carriers Association.
She was longtime member of Zion United Church of Christ where she attended with her family and was an active member of the Zion Women's Guild and served on the Missions Committee. Her full active life was a testament to her faith, positive attitude and love for her large family.

Survivors include her children, William Howard DeLacey, Jr. and his wife, Martha of Portland, OR, Charles DeLacey and his wife, Kim of Houston, TX, Donna Jo Hornovich and her husband, Rhody of Rochester, MI, Mary Ann Lee and her husband, Delbert of Owensboro, Betty Coleman and her husband, Larry of Pikeville, KY, and Susie Kunze and her husband, Bruce of Owensboro; 15 grandchildren, Charles Howard DeLacey, David DeLacey, Ellen Hathaway, Jon DeLacey, Kerry DeLacey, Tracey Lee, Terry Lee, Christy Lee, Brian Coleman, Jessica Drage, Nathan Kunze, Erin Kunze, Nicholas DeLacey, Zoe DeLacey, and Simone DeLacey; ten great-grandchildren, and two nieces, Ina Tonkin and Nancy Cummins, and a nephew, Robert Dyer.

Services will be 12:00 PM Monday, at Zion United Church of Christ, with burial in Rosehill Cemetery. Visitation will be 1:00 PM until 5:00 PM Sunday at Glenn Funeral Home, and from 10:00 AM until 12:00 PM Monday at the fellowship hall of Zion United Church of Church. She will be greatly missed by her many beloved friends and relatives. Donations can be made in her memory to the Zion United Church of Christ Memorial Fund, 625 Allen St., Owensboro, KY, or the Boulware Mission, 609 Wing Ave., Owensboro, KY 42303.