DeOnn A. Stacey

DeOnn Atherton Stacey, christened Jacquelynne DeOnn Atherton, passed on July 19, 2024 in her Glen Ellyn home at Brookdale Senior Living Facility at the age of 91. She was the beloved daughter of Gordon and Gertrude Atherton and the cherished wife of Lindley Charles Stacey Sr.

DeOnn was born on June 27, 1933, in Charles City, Iowa. She grew up there, but also spent some time in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Dowagiac, Michigan as the family relocated for her father’s work.  She attended Grinnell College where she met the love of her life, Lindley Charles Stacey Sr.  Lin and DeOnn were married on December 27, 1952, in Charles City, Iowa. They returned to Grinnell where Lin finished his coursework and DeOnn worked in the registrar’s office. During Lin’s first sea duty aboard the U.S.S. Douglas H. Fox – DD779, DeOnn returned to Charles City where she gave birth to their first child, Lindley Jr. They were relocated to Portsmouth Naval Base, VA where DeOnn gave birth to their second child, Kathie. After his active duty in the US Navy, they relocated to married student housing at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, while Lin worked toward his master’s degree. In 1957, they moved to Chicago and Gordon was born that summer. They purchased a home in Glen Ellyn in February of 1958. Mary Beth was added to the family in 1960 and Tom followed in 1963. DeOnn loved her house at 336 Marion Avenue in Glen Ellyn, overseeing many additions and remodels.

DeOnn was very involved in her children’s school activities including organizing both in-school and after-school programs. Her piano playing skills allowed her to be the accompanist for many school programs. She loved sewing, especially Christmas pajamas for her grandchildren, and needlework. Their Glen Ellyn home was filled with her finished projects and she readily gave many away as gifts. DeOnn loved cats (especially Blue Point Siamese), gardening, cooking, and setting the perfect table.

DeOnn and Lin were true world travelers, but most enjoyed their trips in the fall to Bailey Island, Maine and winters on St. George Island off the Florida Panhandle.  There they hosted numerous visits from children and grandchildren. 

She is survived by her children: Lindley Jr. (Pat), Kathie (Paul Lear and the late Jim Riner), Gordon (Liz), Mary Beth (Dan Peppers), Tom ( Janis); 15 grandchildren: Lin III (fiancé, Pam), Tyler (Anna), Jessica (Chris Wallis), Jeremy ( Michelle), Jameson ( Angie), Jonathan (Amanda), Joshua (Kiley), Cali, Kristen, Stacia (Phil Kapalka), Shannon (Nick Bakke), Tom, Jr and Ann (Logan Dieter), Calvin (Jessica) and Maggie (Ross Marshall); 14 great grandchildren: Kyee, Kalei, Tully, Aislin, Iris, June, Luke, Jack, Isla, Kwinn, Avery, Ellie, Kalloway, and Baby Boy (due any day);  brother, David (Linda), brother-in-law Darrell (late Sharon), sister-in-law Carol (late James) and several nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband Lindley, sister Sharon, sister-in-law Ruth, and brothers-in-law James and Michael (late Nancy).

A memorial gathering is scheduled on August 3, 2024 from 2 pm until 5 pm at Leonard Memorial Home in Glen Ellyn, IL, with a time of remembrance at 4 pm.   Interment will be in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, 20953 Hoff Rd, Elwood, IL.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to: Honor Flight Chicago by mail 9701 W Higgins Road, Suite 310, Rosemont, IL 60018-4703 or online at honorflightchicago.org, Parkinson’s Foundation, 200 SE 1st Street, Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131 or parkinson.org, or American Cancer Society American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741 at www.cancer.org.

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