Patricia "Pat" Carnes

Patricia "Pat" Carnes, passed away peacefully on December 29th, 2024, in Austin, Texas, after a courageous 3-month struggle following a stroke. Pat was a vibrant woman who prioritized family, community, and health. Pat will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Pat was born on February 6th, 1942, to James Ezell Maveety and Maxine Geren Maveety, in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Pat spent most of her youth in El Paso but moved briefly to Odessa in high school. She graduated from Odessa High School, where she was the school newspaper editor and an elected member of the Quill & Scroll Society.

She returned to El Paso to attend the University of Texas at El Paso. She received a bachelor’s degree in education and was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority. She soon began her life as a wife, mother, and homemaker. She lived in many places until the ’70s when she settled in Dallas, TX. Pat lived in Dallas for over 30 years, raising her children, developing lifelong friendships, and discovering her love of tennis at Brookhaven Country Club.

Pat moved to Austin, TX, in 2011, and quickly established an amazing group of tennis (and pickleball!) friends at Courtyard Tennis Club. She also continued her lifelong love of learning through seminars at The University of Texas at Austin Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (UT OLLI). She developed many strong friendships through this program.

Pat was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her brother, Garry Maveety of Ruidoso, New Mexico; her children, Karen Carnes Slay of Dallas, TX; Keith Avery Carnes, of Overgaard, AZ; Katherine (Kate) Carnes Burns of Austin, TX; her grandchildren Regan Leigh Slay, of Savannah, TX; Dylan Teel Slay, of Garland, TX; Josephine (Jojo) Leigh Burns and Tessa Rose Burns, both of Austin, TX; her son-in-law, Douglas Teel Slay, of Dallas, TX, and her former spouse, Billy (Bill) Avery Carnes, of Austin, TX.

Family, friends, and others whose lives Pat touched are invited to attend a celebration of life at The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center on February 9th, 2025, from 11AM to 1PM. A light lunch will be served. Colorful attire is encouraged, in honor of Pat’s love of nature and her colorful fashion taste.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the following organizations that were important to Pat:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Assistance League of Austin