James Milton Carver Jr., 74, went to be with his Lord and Savior on July 17, 2022. He was born on December 16, 1947, in Weatherford, Oklahoma, to Milton and Peggy Carver. His family moved to Big Spring in 1951. He attended Big Spring High School where he was an all-around athlete, excelling in football, basketball and track & field.
After
graduating in 1967, Jim went on to play football for Kansas State
University on a full ride. He was named a two time All Big Eight
Offensive Lineman, an All American and played in the Blue Gray All Star
game in 1970. He met his wife, Carolee, during a snowball fight near the
athletic dorms. Jim and Carolee married on July 24, 1970 and have been
married for 52 years. After coaching and teaching in Oakley, Kansas,
Stephenville, Early, and Blanket, Jim and his family moved to Midland,
Texas, in 1984. He started teaching and coaching at Alamo Jr. High and
moved to Lee Freshman in 1987 to teach history and coach. Coaching and
investing in the lives of students was one of his great loves and
passions. He coached until 1992 when he was sidelined by blood clots. He
moved to Lee High in 1997 and taught history and geography until he
retired from MISD in 2007. Along the way he taught many students in
Drivers Ed and also showed them how to navigate life.
Coach loved his wife, his kids, and grandkids. You could find him
cheering at their school events, yelling at the refs and almost getting
kicked out of their games, as well as enjoying choir concerts, dance
recitals, supporting them in History Fair and just showing up in their
everyday lives. He was a proud supporter of Midland Lee Rebels, Kansas
State Wildcats, and The University of Texas Longhorns. He loved all
things football. He was an avid car and train enthusiast and enjoyed
spending time tinkering. He also had a passion for back seat driving,
calling plays at any type of sporting event and having brief encounters
with stupidity. “BRIEF!” He was notorious for his amusing exclamations
like “Didn’t they know we were coming?!”, “Chump!”, “buzzard puke” and
“May the fleas of a thousand camels infest your arm pits!” Coach loved
serving and worshiping at Wilshire Park Baptist Church. He was an active
participant in Men’s prayer breakfast and loved a mean potluck.
With everything that Jim was and accomplished in his life, his real
legacy can be seen in his love and belief in Jesus and showing others
that love. And that legacy of love is carried on through his children
and grandchildren.
Coach is survived by his wife, Carolee Carver, his daughter Melissa
Barlow, her husband Kent, his son Jeremy Carver, and daughter Christina
Wren, and her husband Clint. Coach’s grandchildren Bailey, Jackson, Elah
Grace, Keller Barlow and Nolan and Paxton Wren. Coach’s sister Connie,
her husband George and their daughter’s Shannon, Bobby, Lauren Jackson
and Tiffany, Shawn, and Emma Grace Hawkins. He is also survived by Uncle
Sonny Moore, Aunt Wanda, and their family as well as Brother-in-Laws
Cec, Dennis, Vaughn Lambert and their families.
Coach is preceded in death by his father James Milton Carver Sr.,
his mother Peggy Louise Carver, his father in law John Cecil Lambert and
mother in law Ruth Lorene Lambert, Brother-in-Law Ronald Dee Lambert
and numerous Aunts, Uncles, and cousins.
The family would like to thank Hospice of Midland for their love and
care in his final months. The family would also like to thank Cimmaron
Place staff, along with the friends he made for making his last two
months a positive experience.
The visitation was Thursday, July 21, 2022, from 5:00-7:00 pm at
Nalley-Pickle Welch. The celebration of life was held Friday, July 22,
2022 at 2:00 pm at Wilshire Park Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Midland and/or Wilshire Park Baptist Church, Midland, Tx.
Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch
Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences may be made
at www.npwelch.com.
Graveside services will be held at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, July 27,
2022, at the Eminence (Thornburg) Cemetery, Rural Thornburg, KS with
Pastor Dennis Lambert officiating.
Graveside arrangements entrusted to Rentschler Family Mortuaries, Smith Center, KS.
To leave an online condolence visit www.rfmortuaries.com.