Gilbert Leo Lavey, of McKinney Texas, formerly of West Bloomfield, Michigan, passed away on Sunday, March 17, 2019, after reaching the age of 84 years old after a very brief illness. He was born on July 17, 1934 in Jackson, Michigan to Helen Patterson Lavey and Michael Leo Lavey.
As a very young man, he learned to work hard at Polly’s Market in Jackson, and he attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan where he received a Bachelor’s of Business Administration degree with an emphasis in accounting in 1956.
While at the University of Michigan, he met the love of his life, Barbara Bedard, a nurse. They married and lived together almost inseparable for over 62 years. An ROTC student, Gilbert went into the Air Force as an officer upon graduation, and together Gil and Barb spent three years overseas in Japan, before returning to Detroit.
Gilbert’s professional accounting career spanned over 35 years. He began his career at Arthur Andersen & Co. in 1956 and worked there for 17 years before joining the Michigan Consolidated Gas Company in 1973 where he served as Vice President and Controller for about 20 years before retiring around 1992. He not only took pride in his role at MichCon, but truly relished the friends he made during his time in business. Over the years, his accounting expertise and reputation led him to many leadership roles in the gas utility industry associations.
Gilbert used his business and accounting skills to help others throughout his life. He was a lifelong finance volunteer at his church, and in the community as a VITA volunteer doing tax returns for those in need, and with the Accounting Aid Society of Detroit, where he served as a volunteer board member for many years.
He loved to watch all sports at his alma mater, the University of Michigan, especially the football games on cool, crisp Saturdays in the fall. Gilbert “PapaGil” Lavey also loved to watch all of his grandchildren’s sporting events and theater performances, and he loved to be with family or a gathering of friends. He was a strong patriarch of his family, a good friend to all, and a man who would give his shirt for a friend. He was a good father who always took care of his children and did the best he could to teach and guide them, a loving grandfather and “great-grand” father to many.
An accountant and businessman by trade, Gilbert found joy in golf, a game he played compulsively for much of his life. For Gilbert, golf was not only a hobby but a way to channel his competitive energy. In that endeavor, he excelled. He won several local senior tournaments -- many at Stonebridge Country Club in McKinney Texas, where he was a member.
Gilbert was foremost a man whose successes in this earthly life were bolstered by his love and deep faith in God. A member of the St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church in McKinney, he took steps in his walk with God on a daily basis. He had a quiet manner about his faith and truly believed that the best expression of your faith was to quietly go about your life treating others like you would want to be treated. He was a living, practicing example of the Golden Rule, as evidenced in the quiet, loving way he would counsel his children and grandchildren, family and friends as they progressed through life. Gilbert and Barb were and are a true example of unconditional love for family and friends having supported all through countless deeds of simple kindness.
Gilbert is survived by his loving wife, Barbara Cecile Lavey of McKinney, Texas; children, Michael Lavey and wife, Jenny of Dallas, Texas, Karen Oliver and husband, Gerald of Ector, Texas, Steve Lavey and wife, Susan of Highlands Ranch, Colorado and Teri Whitten and husband, Jay of McKinney Texas; 17 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild; sisters Phyllis Sierminski and husband, Richard of Jackson Michigan, Helen Wilson and husband, Bob of Indianapolis, Indiana and Carolyn Fitzpatrick and husband, Leo of Jackson, Michigan; and a host of nieces, nephews and other beloved friends and relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Michael Leo Lavey, and Helen Patterson Lavey; his sisters, Delia May (Lavey) Roty and Theresa (Lavey) Bjerke.
Gilbert will be forever remembered for his beautiful smile, gentle eyes, caring heart, loving embrace and unconditional love. Although our hearts are heavy, we will celebrate his life and find comfort that he is in Heaven watching over us.
A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, March 22, 2019 at St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church, 110 St. Gabriel Way, McKinney, Texas 75071. A remembrance gathering will be held on Thursday evening from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas.