Pacey Laves

Harold "Pacey" Laves, 85, of Dallas, Texas (for the last 5 years), and native Austinite and resident for 80 years, passed away with his family at his side on August 29, 2023 of congestive heart failure. Pacey was born on June 22, 1938 to Louis and Lillian Laves in Austin, Texas. After graduating from Austin High in 1956, he went on to attend The University of Texas at Austin, graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration. Pacey was a member of Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity. He loved "Sammy" and remained actively involved with the fraternity throughout his life, helping to advise and guide the countless young fraternity members that adored him. After graduation, Pacey served his country with six months of active duty in the US Army and over five years in the Reserves. Following his active duty, Pacey joined the family jewelry business, which his parents Louis and Lil Laves had opened in 1929. He was a beloved fixture for decades on 6th Street as the manager of the original location, Laves Jewelry, and he later took over management of the other locations, which operated under the name Benold's Jewelers. Pacey was very active in the Austin community, serving on several boards and non-profits including Austin Optimist Club, Temple Beth Shalom, Temple Beth Israel, Austin Scottish Rite, Ben Hur Shriners and Parsons Lodge. Pacey married the love of his life and his college sweetheart, Myra Sue Efron, from Houston, Texas in 1962. Myra and Pacey were devoted to each other for 61 years. They had 3 daughters, all of whom later married and blessed them with a total of 7 grandchildren. The grandkids all adored their "Pop Pop" and will miss him dearly. Pacey was loved, admired, and respected by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. He never met a stranger and had a heart as big as Texas. He was the life of the party and always the last to leave. He never missed an opportunity to help someone, friend and stranger alike, and he gave generously of his time and resources. He was always authentic and kind. Pacey was a man of many passions. He loved the Longhorns, live music, a good party, a great bourbon, and a dirty joke. Most of all, he loved his family, whom he put above all else. Pacey was predeceased in death by his parents and his brother Benard Laves. His memory will be cherished by his wife Myra; his daughters and their husbands, Fran and Eric Kreindler, Debra and Mark Lowey and Lauren and Gary Feldman; his grandchildren Jocelyn and Allie Feldman, Abigail, Adam and Alexis Lowey, and Leah and Jenna Kreindler; and an endless list of relatives and friends whom he considered family. A graveside service will be conducted at 9 o'clock in the morning on Friday, September 1st, at Austin Memorial Park, 2800 Hancock Drive, Austin, with Rabbi Alan Freedman and Rabbi Eleanor Steinman officiating. Following graveside, a memorial service will be held at 10:30 in the morning at Temple Beth Shalom, 7300 Hart Lane, Austin. Shiva minyans will be held in Dallas the following Sunday and Monday evenings. In honor of Pacey and his love of the Longhorns, we encourage you to dress comfortably with a splash of burnt orange and white. In lieu of flowers, donations in Pacey's honor can be made through the Sigma Alpha Mu Foundation at sam-fdn.org/donate and will benefit Texas Sammy. Please note that your gift is for the "Pacey Laves Legacy Fund" or mail a check payable to the Sigma Alpha Mu Foundation to 8701 Founders Road, Indianapolis IN, 46268 or Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (www.jdrf.org). It's ironic that Pacey passed from heart failure considering he was best known for his incredibly kind, loving, and generous heart, which he led with every time.

Pacey Laves

June 22, 1938 - August 29, 2023