Lacey, Galen Robert

Jan. 19, 1946 - Feb. 13, 2010

Sixty-four-year-old antique art dealer, Galen Lacey, who owned and operated Lacey's Antique Prints Gallery in Mount Vernon, died Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010, after a long battle with heart disease. A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Morgan Funeral and Cremation Choices' Mount Vernon Chapel. It will be a celebration of Galen's life and will provide the opportunity for his many friends to remember him together.

Galen is survived by his sister, Julianne and her husband Sid Gregory of Denver, Colo.; three nieces; and a nephew.

He was predeceased by his older brother, Stephen Lacey of Mount Vernon; and his mother, Claudine Lacey of Portland, Ore.

Galen was born Jan. 19, 1946, in Portland, the second son of Wallace and Claudine Klum Lacey. He spent his childhood years in Portland, but later lived in Boston, Dallas, Phoenix and Denver, before moving to Mount Vernon into the little house on First Avenue that he loved so much. After 16 years in Mount Vernon, it was home; a town and community he loved and appreciated, and where he planned to spend the rest of his life.

Galen had his master's degree in business and worked in a variety of professions in the timber industry, the financial industry and even as a leasing agent, before realizing that what he really wanted was to be independent and work for himself. He started his art business in Denver then moved it and himself to Mount Vernon. As his business grew so did his friendships with local area artists, and he developed a reputation for being “the one” to bring their artwork to for matting and framing. Galen was instrumental in coordinating arts activities in the Mount Vernon area and worked hard to promote the area's “art destination” reputation in his tenure as president of the Mount Vernon Area Arts Council. He also contributed to Chalk the Walk, the Lincoln Highway Arts Festival, and served on Mount Vernon's tourism board for three years.

When Galen wasn't busy in his gallery he could be found in his kitchen, cooking. He loved making gourmet foods, especially East Indian cuisine, and was well known for his fresh cherry pies. He also enjoyed jogging

through the community, manicuring his lawn and tending his fruit trees. Galen loved Mount Vernon, his little house and its art gallery, his great neighbors and his wonderful friends. He died knowing he was loved in return.