William, 69, passed away on Dec. 30th in Gold Canyon, AZ. His loving wife Cynthia was his primary caregiver and rock during his struggles to overcome a Glioblastoma tumor. Secondary caregivers were Cynthia’s parents Wendell and Vera Nehls of Tempe, AZ and several of his siblings. William was born July 22, 1947 to Donald and Gloria Lackey of Boise, ID and was known to his family and friends there as Bill. As a young man, he attended the United Methodist Church, Boy Scouts, and had an Idaho Statesman newspaper route. At Borah HS, he was active in football and very proud to get a letterman’s jacket. He graduated in 1965.
William worked for Summers Funeral Home in Boise, ID during HS and later did an Internship at Chapel of the Chimes Funeral Home in Meridian, ID. He received an Assoc. Degree in Mortuary Science from Gresham Community College in OR. He became owner-operator of the Beatty Funeral Home in Baker, OR. He later gave up the mortuary business for jobs in Washington state, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. He worked for Fresenius Kidney Care in PR. In 2005 he transferred to Phoenix. After 10 years as a bio-medical and regulatory compliance technician at Fresenius clinics in the Phoenix and East Valley area, William retired in March of 2015.
William always had a wry sense of humor and loved playing jokes on family and friends. Their reactions brought him much joy. He played piano and accordion in his early years. A few years ago, he purchased an electric baby grand piano to renew his musical interest and loved playing it. William also enjoyed writing poetry. He joined an on-line poetry site where he could share his poems and enjoy other writer’s works. Taking after his Grandfather Lackey, William loved doing carpentry projects. He remodeled several kitchens and baths in various homes where he lived.
William is preceded in death by his Grandparents on both sides, his Mother and Father, and his newborn baby daughter, Tamara Summer Lackey. He is survived by his wife, Cynthia; his two daughters, Connie Tyrrell (Stewart) and Amanda Lackey; his adopted son, Scott Lackey; two Grandchildren, Emily and Kendall Goto; his sisters, Donna Miller (John) and Linda Keller (David); his two brothers, Steven Lackey (Sally), and Phillip Lackey; seven nephews and two nieces. His mother-in-law and father-in-law, Wendell and Vera Nehls and two brother-in-laws, Craig Nehls (Jennifer) and Michael Nehls.
A memorial service for William will be held at Mountain View Funeral Home, 7900 East Main St, Mesa, AZ on Sat., Jan. 21st at 1:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations may be made to Barrow Neurological Foundation, PO Box 2071, Phoenix, AZ 85001-2071 (specific support of Glioblastoma research)
Please leave condolences for the family below.
My heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to his wife Cynthia and his family in this time of sadness and loss.
William was loved by all who helped with his care.
May his soul be at peace and rest and may he be surrounded by joy and bliss and love .
A special prayer for comfort for all his loved ones in their grief.
I’m sorry to hear of the loss of my good high school Friend. We had many great times and wonderful memories. I am sorry that we lost contact after high school, but was so glad that I got to spend some time with Bill and did a little reminiscing about the ” good ol’ days”.
Bill will be missed, but never forgotten.
Our hearts, thoughts and prayers for Cynthia and Bill’s Family and Friends.
I didn’t know Bill & Cynthia very well, but every interaction I had w/Bill was an enjoyable one. He was so very brave and courageous thoughout his ordeal. He was a true inspiration to me as I am now in a battle with Meningioma-which is not cancerous-thankfully, but scary none-the-less. I am blessed to have known him at all.
My heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to his wife Cynthia and his family in this time of sadness and loss.
William was loved by all who helped with his care.
May his soul be at peace and rest and may he be surrounded by joy and bliss and love .
A special prayer for comfort for all his loved ones in their grief.
I’m sorry to hear of the loss of my good high school Friend. We had many great times and wonderful memories. I am sorry that we lost contact after high school, but was so glad that I got to spend some time with Bill and did a little reminiscing about the ” good ol’ days”.
Bill will be missed, but never forgotten.
Our hearts, thoughts and prayers for Cynthia and Bill’s Family and Friends.
I didn’t know Bill & Cynthia very well, but every interaction I had w/Bill was an enjoyable one. He was so very brave and courageous thoughout his ordeal. He was a true inspiration to me as I am now in a battle with Meningioma-which is not cancerous-thankfully, but scary none-the-less. I am blessed to have known him at all.