Most of her life was lived in the Kiowa Community. When she became ill, she and Frank went to Pueblo, Colorado where her mother and son were living to seek medical help. Velma had breast cancer two years previously and felt her illness stemmed from this. She died of cancer at Corwin Hospital in Pueblo, Colorado on the 18th of November 1951. Her body was returned to Oklahoma for burial in the Kiowa Cemetery.
At her death, she was survived by her husband, Frank Lacey, a son, Freddie Lacey, her parents, Mrs. Lula Brannon of Pueblo, Colorado and her father Andrew Pierce Hodges of Alhambra, California; one brother, Billie Brannon of Pueblo, five sisters; Mattie Villers, Iva Wood both of Pueblo, Ola Liddle of Denver, Colorado, Ina Ellet of Westbrook, Texas and Venita Betts of Alamosa, Colorado.
