Doug Carver

Doug Carver, 98, of Keene passed away early Wednesday morning, February 21, 2018, at his residence. Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Saturday, February 24, 2018, at Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors in Hillsboro. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Sunday, February 25, 2018, at Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors Chapel in Hillsboro with Pastor James Winegardner, Senior Pastor of Keene Seventh-day Adventist Church, officiating. He will be laid to rest at Hickey Cemetery near Hillsboro. His family will host a memorial service at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, February 25, at the Keene Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Throughout his 98 years, Doug lived life to its fullest. Born in Whitney on Oct. 8, 1919, to David Crockett and Lena Maude (Truitt) Carver, he spent his formative years in many locations as the family followed his Dad’s assignments with the railroad. It was just before Pearl Harbor that he entered the U.S. Army in 1941 to serve his country during World War II. He was an accomplished baseball player and played on company teams while in the Army. After his discharge, his promising baseball career was cut short when he suffered a serious leg injury in a motor vehicle accident on a trip to see Roy Rogers perform.

During nearly two years of recovery, he happened to meet the girl next door. That girl, Effie Mae Henry and he would be married on November 22, 1947 in Electra and would settle in Vernon. While there he worked for his father building and setting boilers. The family later owned and operated Commercial Heater Company in Fort Worth. In 1961, the couple moved to Keene with their four children. Doug was employed by the City of Keene and Southwestern Adventist College, where he retired in 1984.

While living in Keene, he was very active and received many recognitions in the intervening years, including Citizen of the Year and also served as Mayor Pro-Tem. Doug was a deacon and very active in the Keene Seventh-day Adventist Church. He was a member of the DAV and a long-time supporter of Cal Farley’s Boy’s Ranch. Effie preceded him in death in 2005 after 58 years together.

Deeply interested in history, he also enjoyed hunting, fishing and traveling with his wife. When he and his friends would travel regularly to Big Bend, he would serve as the group’s cook. He and Effie loved Colorado and would try to visit there every year. With all that, he still managed to find time to read, enjoy music, garden, coach softball, and in his later years he wrote articles for the Keene/Burleson Star about his life and times. He was a very enthusiastic Cowboys and Rangers fan and had even made the journey to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.

Also preceding him in death were his parents; son, Doyle Carver; brother, Robert “Bobby” Carver; and sister, Evelyn Carver.

Survivors include his three children, Diane Johnson and husband, Skip, of Hillsboro, Dennis Carver and wife, Susie, of Benbrook, and Danny Carver of Keene; daughter-in-law, Elisa Carver of Burleson; three grandchildren, Shannon Taylor of Hillsboro, Brent Taylor of Monroe, LA, and Angela Carver and spouse, Lisa Ledyard, of Fort Worth; great-granddaughter, Arden Genore; and a number of nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Keene Adventist Elementary Gymnasium Project; 114 S. Fairview; Keene, TX 76059.

Visitation

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM ,Saturday, February 24, 2018
Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors in Hillsboro
2495 Corsicana Highway Hillsboro, TX, TX 76645

Funeral Service

10:00 AM ,Sunday, February 25, 2018
Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors
2495 Corsicana Highway Hillsboro, TX 76645

Memorial Service

2:00 PM ,Sunday, February 25, 2018
Keene Seventh-day Adventist Church
114 S. Fairview St. Keene, TX 76059

Burial

Sunday, February 25, 2018
Hickey Cemetery
HCR 2431 Hillsboro, TX 76645