Born on March 17, 1916, in Butler, she was the daughter of the late John Henry Buchter and Marie Gruber Buchter.

Mrs. Lackey was a pioneering leader in the establishment of developmental and career opportunities to advance the lives of mentally handicapped persons. Because of her love for her son Tommy and broader concerns for all children with mental challenges, Mrs. Lackey became active with the Pennsylvania Association of Retarded Children and was active in leadership of the Butler Chapter of PARC. In 1956 her efforts led to opening of the first Sheltered Workshop on Cunningham Street, and over subsequent years the Workshop occupied several locations. In 1967, through the efforts of Mrs. Lackey and others, the Workshop was awarded permanent space in the former Butler Post Office building, a facility that serves as home to the Sheltered Workshop to this day. In 1966 Mrs. Lackey was elected Secretary of the Pennsylvania Association of Retarded Children, a position she held for two terms. She and her husband, Don Lackey, were married in 1955, and both held leadership positions in the Butler Chapter, PARC over a period of more than ten years beginning in 1967. Elizabeth was an avid golfer, swimmer, and bridge player, an activity she continued until recently.

Mrs. Lackey is survived by her daughter Linda Lackey and her husband, Christopher Umble, of Gibsonia; two nieces, Nancy Hanks Burnett of Wilmington, North Carolina, and Elizabeth Buchter Bernhardt of Palo Alto, California; two nephews, John Buchter of Savannah, Georgia, and Denning Buchter of Whiteville, North Carolina; and a sister-in-law Mary Ann Buchter of Wilmington, North Carolina. She is also survived by a great niece, Kristen Bonnet; and three great nephews, Kevin Buchter, Michael Buchter, and John Karl Buchter.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Lackey was preceded in death by her husband, Donald C. Lackey, in 1995, by her son, Thomas Seaburn, a sister, Ann Buchter Hanks, and two brothers , Thomas Buchter and Henry F. C. Buchter.

Friends will be received at the Thompson-Miller Funeral Home, Inc., 124 East North Street, Butler, Pennsylvania on Thursday, February 18, 2010, from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m., and from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m.

Services will be held at St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church on Friday, February 19, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. with Father James W. Dolan officiating. Interment will follow in St. Peter's Cemetery.