Robert Stacey

Eight years ago, Robert Leslie Stacey took up his battle against pancreatic cancer. At 3 p.m. on November 16, 2019, he laid down his weapons and stepped gently into the arms of his Lord and Savior. He was at his home in Allen, Texas, surrounded by his family, fellow warriors in the fight against this terrible disease.

Robert was born July 28, 1961 in Port Arthur, Texas, the precious only son of Jacynthe “Jackie” Stacey. He grew up with his mother, Uncle Bob and Aunt Nina Franklin, and cousins Stacie and Jerrie Franklin in Nederland, Texas.

Moving to the Chicago area for a job with Midway Airlines, it was there he met the love of his life, Kristina Marie Cook. They married on May 8, 1992 and started their family two years later with the birth of their daughter, Kaitlyn Nicole, on May 3, 1994. Their son, Dylan Franklin, was born March 13, 1997. Robert and Kristina had an amazing partnership for over 27 years.

With the closing of Midway Airlines, in 1992 Robert had the extreme good fortune to join Southwest Airlines in Dallas, Texas, where he was employed until his death. Southwest provided him with a career and a work family that has been a constant source of LUV and amazing support throughout his time there.

Robert underwent the Whipple Procedure, chemotherapy, radiation, clinical trials, surgeries and many treatments during his 8-year survival with pancreatic cancer. Despite that, he never complained and continued to work as a Superintendent of Dispatch at Southwest Airlines until just months before his death.

After learning of his diagnosis, Robert and Kristina decided to fulfill their desire to travel. They celebrated their lives together with adventures that took them around the world, from Italy to Alaska.

Everyone who knew Robert loved and respected him. He touched lives in many ways with his kindness, wisdom, intelligence and humor, and will be remembered with joy just as he is missed with sadness.

He is survived by his wife, children, cousin/sister Jerrie Franklin (Fernando) Muriel of Georgetown, Texas, Aunt Margaret Stacey of Dripping Springs, Texas, Aunt Louise McJunkin of Pelzer, South Carolina, and countless cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by cousin Stacie, his mother, Aunt Nina and Uncle Bob, Aunt Irene Ethington, Uncle David Stacey, Aunt Minnie Halsey and Uncle Junior Stacey.

The Stacey family has requested that memorial donations be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network at  www.PANCAN.org. Flowers may be sent to Custer Road United Methodist Church, 6601 Custer Road, Plano, Texas 75023.

Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Friday, November 22, 2019, at Allen Family Funeral Home, 2112 W Spring Creek Parkway, Plano, Texas. A celebration of his life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Custer Road United Methodist Church.