June (Simmons) Pace

Funeral service for June Pace, 79, of Melrose will be held at 10:00am on Friday, April 17, 2026 at Melrose Baptist Church.  Interment will follow at Lower Melrose Cemetery.  Visitation will be held from 5-7pm Thursday, April 16, 2026 at Laird Funeral Home.

Nelva “June” Simmons Pace was born in Nacogdoches on June 28, 1946 and went on to her heavenly home on Saturday, April 11, 2026.

June was the daughter of Lucy & Buck Simmons and spent most of her life in Nacogdoches.  She married Mike Pace on September 14, 1962 and together, they raised their 4 greatest blessings, Stacy, Alan, Jeff and Charise.  During her lifetime, June wore many hats.  She was a wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.  She was known by all her children as “Mam” and devoted her life to Christ, her family, her community and her church.  She was caring, loving and supportive, but most importantly, she was present.  Present with her friends, her church, the students she taught, her coworkers and her family.  She was a grand example of a Christian woman who enjoyed teaching Sunday School, VBS, leading the singing and helping keep everyone organized at church.  She also appreciated good gospel music and found great pleasure in decorating, gardening, birdwatching, beautiful flowers and her two cats.  However, her greatest joy was her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  They brought immeasurable delight to her life. 

Although her life was constantly full of things she was doing, teaching was one of the things she found great delight in.  Her teaching career at Woden ISD spanned many years including the majority of her children’s and grandchildren’s school years.  She took great pride in her teachings and loved every child that was lucky enough to have her help guide them through the years. 

If June were here, she would say “One of the best things you could do in life is to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior”.  Her steadfastness in her beliefs was likely the most important trait June possessed.  She loved her Lord and Savior and there is no doubt that she is enjoying the beauty of Heaven at the side of Jesus. 

June is survived by her loving children, Stacy Triana & husband James, Alan Pace & wife Debra, Jeff Pace and Charise Pace; grandchildren, Micheal Ariola & wife Seleste, April Nelson & husband Trent, Isaac Triana, Josh Triana & wife Stephanie; Kaleb Pace & wife Alicia, Lauren Herrick & husband Jake, Jeff Pace, Jr., Kayleigh Sutton & husband Adam, Alyssa Cain and Samantha Cain; 14 great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Marsha Meador & husband Charles and brother-in-law, Jim Irvine. 

She is preceded in death by her husband, Mike Pace; her parents and her sister, Geraldine Irvine.

Serving as pallbearers will be Alan Pace, Jeff Pace, Isaac Triana, Micheal Arriola, Josh Triana, Trent Nelson, Kaleb Pace, Jake Herrick and Jeff Pace, Jr.

Honorary pallbearer is Danny Harkness.

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