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Dallas, TX--Steve Magner, a leader and tastemaker in the luxury jewelry industry, died July 3, following a massive stroke. He died just one day short of being able to celebrate what is described as his favorite holiday, Independence Day. He was 63.

Described in his obituary in the Dallas Morning News as “an American in every sense of the word, he believed in honesty, hard work, voting, and the first sip of a cold beer,” he “had an infectious smile, a giving heart, a machine-gun wit, and he was never, ever in a bad mood. He loved baseball, apple pie, playing dominoes, sunsets, fishing and the great State Fair of Texas.”

Born September 29, 1949, Magner was raised in Richardson, TX. He married his childhood sweetheart, Kay, in 1971 and the couple spent nearly 42 years together.  They have two children and three grandchildren. A fourth grandchild is expected in September.

Magner was highly respected as a leader in the jewelry industry. Friend and colleague Andy Johnson, owner of Diamond Cellar Holdings, described him as one of the pillars of the luxury jewelry sector.

“He will be sorely, sorely missed by many in this industry,” Johnson told The Centurion. Though Magner had been diagnosed and was undergoing chemotherapy for a very treatable form of leukemia, said Johnson, his sudden death was a shock to everyone.

Magner began his career in the industry in 1969, as a delivery boy for Dallas-based luxury retailer Neiman Marcus. Over the years, he worked his way up to executive vice president of precious jewelry, where he served for 19 years, earned a reputation as a key tastemaker in the industry, and retired in 2003.

But Magner, like many, proved again that once in the jewelry industry, you're in it for life--you never really leave.

“He joked that he failed retirement,” said Johnson. “We’d always dreamed of doing something together, so when he decided playing golf all the time was not for him, he joined Diamond Cellar Holdings as president.” He spent the last eight years working side by side with his best friend Johnson.

Along with the Ohio-based Diamond Cellar stores, Magner oversaw Bruce G. Weber Jewelers in Tulsa, OK, and Donoho’s Jewellers in Houston, TX, two other stores in the group.

Magner is survived by his wife Kay, their children, daughter Carrie and son-in-law Jeff Francis; son Kevin and daughter-in-law Hilary; grandchildren Kiely, James, and Ben Francis, and "Baby Boy" Magner who is due in September.

Magner also is survived by his mother, Dorothy; two sisters, Jean and Leslie; two brothers-in-law, Mike and Bill; and two brothers, Joe and Danny; as well as numerous other relatives. A memorial service will be held Friday, July 12, at 2:30 p.m. in Dallas.

For information on memorial donations, email stevemagnercharitablefund@gmail.com.