Cille Stacer

Dorva Lucille Stacer 1942-2023
Beloved and admired for her grace, kindness, generosity, spunk, spark and fun-loving personality.
Cille Stacer passed away unexpectedly on October 5th at home in Wolcott, IA.

Cille was born January 17th, 1942 to Noah Jerry (NJ) Lair and Dorva (Turner) Lair. She graduated from North Kansas City High School in 1959. After college she received her secondary degree, began her teaching career and married John D. Stacer in 1964 and became Dorva Lucille Stacer.

If you happened to be one of her hundreds of language students you may have known her as Madame Stacer or Señora Stacer.  If you were her friend, you knew her as Cille. Not Dorva, not Lucille, and never Lucy. It was Cille. And to us, she was mom. Although, sometimes we called her Dorva to push her buttons.

Her smiley eyes, they crinkled just so when she laughed with a mischievous twinkle. Cille’s twinkly eyes were “all sparkly, happy and magic”. Her short hair was chic, eventually turning such a beautiful silver that strangers felt compelled to compliment. Her merry and friendly exterior matched her personality. If that was all you knew of her, it was enough. But those who made friends with her eventually discovered her impressive credentials in the academic world and amazing accomplishments in the creative arts.

With a gift for languages, and fluent in French and Spanish, Cille was a high school French and Spanish teacher for many decades.  She started teaching in Iowa in 1988 after our family moved here from Missouri.  She taught so many students and touched so many of their lives. She was the kind of teacher that everyone hoped they’d get. Students were drawn to her and enjoyed her because they could tell that she enjoyed them. She saw the cleverness and creativity in teenagers that they hadn’t yet fully seen in themselves. She also had two masters degrees that she earned in the evenings and weekends, while working full-time as a teacher and raising four kids.

Cille was a great cook, just one of her many talents on the homefront. When she had the room, she kept a very large garden and spent many hours during her summer break canning fruit and vegetables. Cille was also a talented seamstress, quilter, and knitter. Those who were lucky enough to receive one of her creations, knew they had a precious keepsake that Cille had spent countless hours creating.

Our mother was also a talented musician. She had a beautiful singing voice, played piano and the bass guitar. She was a member of various choirs and singing groups throughout her life and was often called upon to sing solos in church for weddings and special occasions. For many years she was the church chorister who led the hymns during Sunday service.

Cille was also an avid/voracious reader, with a long list of books in a wide range of genres to be read, often gently rocking and sometimes rhythmically tapping her front tooth with a fingernail as she read. 

Cille & John had four children Glenna, Julia, Clark and Dennis. They were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and lived in various places throughout their marriage… Sacramento, California, northeast Missouri and various small towns in Iowa.

Cille and her husband John had a long history together. They went to high school together in Kansas City and married after college. John passed away 4 years ago, and Cille’s daughter Julia passed away about 2 years ago and Cille was comforted by the fact that Julie and her dad would have each other. Now, it brings great comfort to know that the 3 of them will be together.

Cille is survived by her children; Glenna (John) Sayles of Evergreen, CO, Clark Stacer of Eugene, OR and Dennis Stacer of Chicago, Il; grandchildren Addison & Ellis Sayles, Ian & Fiona Melady and Marshall Stacer; and sibling Frances “Teddy” Southers. Cille was preceded in death by her daughter Julia Stacer and her husband, John D. Stacer.

There will be a memorial service for Cille at 11am on October 27th, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Davenport. 4929 Wisconsin Ave, Davenport, IA 52806

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