Obituary for Gerald Carver
Gerald Oliver Carver passed away on March 17, 2022, at the age of 86. He was born at home in Hunt, County on January 4, 1936. When he was young his family moved to Sherman, Texas, where he grew up and graduated from Sherman High School. He loved his Alma Mater and as kids, we grew up hearing Sherman Bearcat stories. In his heyday, he played Football for the Bearcats where he was a team captain and kicker. It is rumored that the year after he graduated the fans were still cheering “Kick that ball Carver!” when the Bearcats were kicking extra points. He stayed in touch with his high school friends over the years and was instrumental in planning several of their reunions.
Dad met the love of his life, Shirley Carter, in Sunday School. They started dating in high school and dated all through college, where they both attended North Texas State University. He was the first in his family to graduate from college. While at North Texas, he pledged Sigma Nu and like his high school friends he was very good at keeping in touch with his Sigma Nu fraternity brothers.
Dad and Mom married in August 1958 and moved to Irving, Texas where he started his lifelong career in the floor covering business. He found a position with the L.D. Brinkman Company where he was very successful in his career there and eventually retired, although he didn’t give up his work entirely. He then went to work for Salem Carpet Mills and he and mom moved to Chattanooga, TN where they spent 5 years. During this time they spent many weekends exploring, traveling, and making some amazing friends. He ended his career back in Irving working for himself, Jerry Carver & Co., where he helped so many friends and friends of friends with floor covering. Dad had an amazing work ethic and enjoyed helping people and found so much pride in his little “side” business that he continued to work well into his eighties. He would often tell us that carrying the floor covering samples to his appointments was good exercise.
Dad and Mom were long time members of First United Methodist Church in Irving, TX. They were active in the Kum Doubles Sunday School class, and Dad was also involved with the Wednesday Work Crew. Here again, he made lifelong, precious friends.
Dad loved Colorado, growing up we did a lot of camping in our Coleman pop-up camper, and have the most amazing memories from our camping trips with the Mosshart girls and the many ski trips with family friends. He eventually found Rams Horn Village where he and mom spent time every summer and every fall in Cabin #9 enjoying the mountains. Dusk drives through Rocky Mountain National Park looking for wildlife was a favorite past-time. Again, he made a little extended family of friends through Rams Horn. The folks are still telling Gerald and Dick Eakins stories and laughing at their shenanigans and the tricks that they played on each other. Dad and Dick were the best of friends and were in many ways better together, their sense of humor never ceased to keep us all entertained.
But those that knew Dad know that his family was his pride and joy. He was so very proud of his wife, his kids, his grandkids, and his great grandkids. He loved being Papaw and sharing his love of popcorn and Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream with us all. He is survived by his wife, Shirley, his sisters Susan Carver Archer and Jeanne Lynn Carver, his children, Tammy, Debby, Kyle and his wife Dana, his grandchildren Baleigh and her husband Caleb, Carter Jane, Kyle, Tucker and Talise, and his great grandkids Knoxley and Crew. Dad’s wisdom, positive yet sometimes cantankerous and hard-headed attitude, incredible work ethic, sense of humor, and good heart will be missed. His legacy is that he left us with a true appreciation of life, amazing memories, and his love that will live with us forever.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, April 21, 2022, at First Methodist United Church of Irving.
Family to Receive Friends at 10:30 a.m., followed by a Memorial Service at 11:30 a.m. Live stream of service located at www.fumcirving.org
Memorial donations may be made to the First Methodist United Church at 211 W. 3rd St., Irving, TX 75060
Dad met the love of his life, Shirley Carter, in Sunday School. They started dating in high school and dated all through college, where they both attended North Texas State University. He was the first in his family to graduate from college. While at North Texas, he pledged Sigma Nu and like his high school friends he was very good at keeping in touch with his Sigma Nu fraternity brothers.
Dad and Mom married in August 1958 and moved to Irving, Texas where he started his lifelong career in the floor covering business. He found a position with the L.D. Brinkman Company where he was very successful in his career there and eventually retired, although he didn’t give up his work entirely. He then went to work for Salem Carpet Mills and he and mom moved to Chattanooga, TN where they spent 5 years. During this time they spent many weekends exploring, traveling, and making some amazing friends. He ended his career back in Irving working for himself, Jerry Carver & Co., where he helped so many friends and friends of friends with floor covering. Dad had an amazing work ethic and enjoyed helping people and found so much pride in his little “side” business that he continued to work well into his eighties. He would often tell us that carrying the floor covering samples to his appointments was good exercise.
Dad and Mom were long time members of First United Methodist Church in Irving, TX. They were active in the Kum Doubles Sunday School class, and Dad was also involved with the Wednesday Work Crew. Here again, he made lifelong, precious friends.
Dad loved Colorado, growing up we did a lot of camping in our Coleman pop-up camper, and have the most amazing memories from our camping trips with the Mosshart girls and the many ski trips with family friends. He eventually found Rams Horn Village where he and mom spent time every summer and every fall in Cabin #9 enjoying the mountains. Dusk drives through Rocky Mountain National Park looking for wildlife was a favorite past-time. Again, he made a little extended family of friends through Rams Horn. The folks are still telling Gerald and Dick Eakins stories and laughing at their shenanigans and the tricks that they played on each other. Dad and Dick were the best of friends and were in many ways better together, their sense of humor never ceased to keep us all entertained.
But those that knew Dad know that his family was his pride and joy. He was so very proud of his wife, his kids, his grandkids, and his great grandkids. He loved being Papaw and sharing his love of popcorn and Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream with us all. He is survived by his wife, Shirley, his sisters Susan Carver Archer and Jeanne Lynn Carver, his children, Tammy, Debby, Kyle and his wife Dana, his grandchildren Baleigh and her husband Caleb, Carter Jane, Kyle, Tucker and Talise, and his great grandkids Knoxley and Crew. Dad’s wisdom, positive yet sometimes cantankerous and hard-headed attitude, incredible work ethic, sense of humor, and good heart will be missed. His legacy is that he left us with a true appreciation of life, amazing memories, and his love that will live with us forever.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, April 21, 2022, at First Methodist United Church of Irving.
Family to Receive Friends at 10:30 a.m., followed by a Memorial Service at 11:30 a.m. Live stream of service located at www.fumcirving.org
Memorial donations may be made to the First Methodist United Church at 211 W. 3rd St., Irving, TX 75060