Pam passed away on March 17, 2023, at the Faith Presbyterian Hospice in Dallas, Texas. She was born on September 11, 1950 in Modesto, California to Harry and Edith Schorr. After graduating High School in Plantation, Florida, Pam moved to Austin, Texas where she began her many years in the retail and fashion industry. In 1979, she moved to Dallas, Texas, and continued her career with Lester Melnick until she retired in 1992.
Jim passed away three days later at the Faith Presbyterian Hospice in Dallas, Texas, on March 20, 2023. He was born on May 5, 1941 in Dallas, Texas to Herbert G. and Dorothy Evelyn Dickson Craft. Jim graduated from Samuell High School in 1959 and attended Baylor University where he received bachelor, master and doctorate degrees in Educational Psychology. As a Graduate Fellow at Baylor, he taught courses in Exceptional Children and Adolescent Psychology. In 1965 he began a twenty-three-year career working in the state’s mental health and mental retardation system where he worked at the Mexia State School as Chief Psychologist and Assistant Superintendent and in the Central Administration of the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation. In the mid-1970s, he served as Deputy Commissioner for Mental Retardation Services. He also led efforts to enact the Mentally Retarded Persons Act and the Limited Guardianship Act as well as serve on the Board of Directors of the National Association of State Mental Retardation Program Directors. In 1979, he came back to Dallas to work for the Dallas County MHMR Center, serving as Executive Director until November 1988.
Recognizing the need for additional community mental health service facilities around the country, he and two colleagues from the field of municipal finance formed Municipal Capital Markets Group (MCMG) in 1989 to underwrite municipal bonds, the proceeds of which were used to acquire or construct community mental health facilities. Jim retired in 2005.
Jim and Pam were married on April 29, 1983 in Dallas, Texas to begin their 39 wonderful years of marriage. They were actively involved in their local community and enjoyed spending time with family and friends. In retirement, Jim explored his passion for travel and photography – photographing six of seven continents. While he enjoyed traveling the world, Jim’s greatest desire was to spend his final years in the presence of his wife, Pam.
They are survived by three sons, Kevin Craft and wife Sheri of San Antonio, Texas, Brian Craft and wife Donna of Burnet, Texas, and Chris Wood of Ft. Worth, Texas; Brother Cleve Schorr and wife Lela of Grapevine, Texas; Sister Carol Craft of Bedford, Texas; Sisters-in-law, Rebecca Craft and Saundra Craft. Jim and Pam have 15 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.
Pam was preceded in death by both parents. Jim was also preceded in death by both parents, his twin brother, Charles and brother Lynn.
The family will hold a small private ceremony to celebrate Jim and Pam’s lives prior to being laid to rest at Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park. Donations in their honor may be made to the T. Boone Pickens Hospice and Palliative Care Center Endowment.
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