Donald "Don" Graham Laws

With hearts full of love, we say goodbye to our beloved Donald "Don" Graham Laws, 87, who passed away peacefully at his Laguna Beach home on October 22, 2026, surrounded by his family. Don was a devoted husband, and incredible dad.

Born on January 5, 1939, to Eleanor and Robert Laws, Don grew up in San Francisco and graduated from Lowell High School in 1957. He joined the U.S. Army that same year. In 1959 Don served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Gulf States.

On January 26, 1963, he married the love of his life, Jette Olsen, in the Manti Utah Temple. One of our families’ favorite stories is how Don met Jette for the first time soon after he returned from his mission. Don attended a church youth dance as a chaperone. Jette was at the dance with another boy who told her, before the dance, that he would be dancing with other girls. She said “ok”. But from across the room Don saw Jette and was smitten and they danced the whole night together. The other boy was upset when he took Jette home. But from then on Don and Jette were inseparable.

Don went to Cal State LA and graduated with a History degree in 1967. He planned to be a school teacher, but quickly realized it wasn’t for him. He began to work for a nursing home as a maintenance/landscaper. Because of his hard work ethic and good business sense, he eventually became an administrator. He would later co-found North American Health Care with his friend and partner David Sorenson.

One of Don’s favorite projects was organizing the building of the Newport Beach California temple. He loved being there for every step of the process. Shortly after the temple was completed and dedicated, Don and Jette served a mission at the Washington DC temple. Without a doubt, temples were an important part of Don’s life, because he truly believed families can be together forever.

Don leaves behind his wife, Jette Laws, his children, Riea (Dale) Ihrke, Nette (Peter) Kimball, Jay Laws (Jill Gillette), and David (Monette) Laws, Linda Jensen (his sister), 10 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren with two more on the way. He is happily reunited with his mom (Eleanor) his brothers (Jim, Dick, and Byron), and his sister (Barbara).

We will celebrate Don's life at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (682 Park Ave, Laguna Beach, CA 92651). He will be laid to rest at Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona Del Mar.