Leaving a Legacy of Care

Ellen Lacey took care. As a professor of home economics at Ball State University, Ellen took care of her students. She oversaw the planning and construction of the Home Management Complex. When construction was complete, Ellen watched over the students living and working in the residence program. At home, she cared for her mother and an aunt, who both lived to be more than 100 years old. She also cared for a variety of animals. After her retirement and after the deaths of her mother and aunt, Ellen continued to rescue and care for animals.

“I always liked animals, even as a young child. My parents told me my first word was ‘dog,’” said Ellen in a late-90s article published in the Communique, a newsletter for the Family and Consumer Science Department at Ball State University.

Throughout her life, Ellen had more pets than one could track. She kept cats and dogs in her Muncie home. She was especially fond of Shelties. She was even known to have a miniature horse and donkey, which she cared for at a friend’s farm in Gaston.

“She took care of students, people, and animals.”

“If you ever drove any place with her and there was an animal running loose, she had to stop and chase it down,” said Jackie Johnston about Ellen. Jackie was a student of Ellen’s at Ball State before joining the faculty herself and building a lifelong professional and personal friendship. Jackie laughed as she continued, “Ellen was a little-bitty lady, and sometimes they were angry animals, but they were her love.”

Jackie continued, “She took care of students, people, and animals.”

Ellen was a founder of Action For Animals and served as president and secretary. She helped organize Sheltie Rescue of Central Indiana in Muncie and worked with Sheltie Rescue of Lafayette. She also established a program to train animals and owners to bring those animals into hospitals, nursing homes, and schools to support patients. She also created programs to provide pet-care education to young children.

With her love of animals in mind, Ellen desired to leave a legacy that would provide continued support for furry friends. In the late 1990s, Ellen sat down to talk with her friend and then Foundation president, Roni Johnson. At that time, the Foundation didn’t have any funds specifically established to benefit animal causes. Ellen and Roni worked together to draft a future fund agreement. Ellen and Roni signed the agreement in 1998, and the fund would be established with a gift from Ellen’s estate sometime in the future after her death.

Ellen’s partnership with The Community Foundation began with the first conversation about her charitable goals in 1998 and continued until her death in early 2021.

Later, Ellen wanted to revisit her plans for her fund. Jackie, who also served as a personal representative for Ellen, invited current Foundation president Kelly K. Shrock for a visit with Ellen.

“When Ellen moved to assisted living, she was working to get her personal and financial things organized,” said Jackie. “I called Kelly, and she came to the house for tea and cookies. Kelly reviewed Ellen’s fund and explained to her that the fund wasn’t endowed and wouldn’t be active until after her passing.”

In January, after Ellen Lacey passed away. The Ellen Lacey Endowment Fund for Companion Animals was established immediately in the Community Foundation’s Acorn Program so that friends could send memorial gifts. In the spring of 2021, the fund was fully endowed from Ellen’s estate.

In 2021, the first grant was awarded to Ambassadors for God’s Creatures for a spay and neuter program. Currently, the fund has the potential to award significant grants to support animal causes, especially those related to pet needs and education.

Caring for animals was a major part of Ellen’s life. It is fitting that her legacy continues that goal. The Ellen Lacey Endowment Fund for Companion Animals will be here today, tomorrow, and always to ensure animals in our community and throughout the state have the care they need.