Obituary: George Lacy Phencie

Services for George Lacy Phenicie, 83, Mission, will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, 2003, at Amos Family Funeral Home, Shawnee. Burial will be at 1 p.m. at Reno Cemetery.

Mr. Phenicie died Saturday, Nov. 29, 2003, at the home of his daughter in Stilwell.

He was born March 26, 1910, in Tonganoxie, the son of Lu Ella (Kelsall) and George Lacy Phenicie Sr., and was raised in Reno.

He attended Kansas University School of Engineering and Architecture and became a home builder. He owned George L. Phenicie Construction in Johnson County and Lacy Construction, Aqua Terra Homes, in the Ozarks. He was a member of the Builders Association in Overland Park, Mission, Lake of the Ozarks and Camdenton, Mo., and of the local carpenters’ union.

A violin player, Mr. Phenicie was a member of the Kansas City Philharmonic. He also played the violin and musical saw for Bill Chowning’s Entertainment Service. In the 1930s, he was a member of the International Union of United Brewery and Soft Drink Workers of America. During this time, he painted Coca-Cola trucks, and operated a car painting business on Southwest Boulevard.

Injured while playing football at KU, Mr. Phenicie could not serve in World War II. Instead, he served his country by becoming a member of the International Union, United Automobile, Aircraft and Agricultureal Implement Workers of America, working in the Kansas City, Mo., bomber plant.

Mr. Phenicie was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Independence, Mo., and of the Elks Lodge No. 2517 in Osage, Beach, Mo.

On Aug. 25, 1934, he married Evelyn E. Savage. They were members of Countryside Christian Church for more than 50 years. There, Mr. Phenicie served as a church deacon.

Survivors include his wife of the home; two daughters, Jackie M. Fortney and Sharon K. Phenicie; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Thursday at the church. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Kansas City Hospice.