John Levi McCarver

John was born February 13, 1949, to the late Robert Earl McCarver and late Winderlyne Bush in Longview, TX. He accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized in the family church, Jerusalem Baptist Church in Longview where he faithfully served until moving to Missouri City, Texas to live with his sister and her family.

John graduated from Longview High School where he excelled in his studies. After high school, John went to Prairie View A&M University where he majored in Electrical Engineering. There he became an active member of the Prairie View Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). He continued his studies at Prairie View for 2 ½ years until he became ill and went home to recoup.

In 1972, John went to Longview Welding School and successfully completed the welding program. Later he went to Kilgore College & received an Air Condition/Refrigeration Certificate. Months later, he was employed by Marathon LeTourneau as a welder for many years. In the meantime, John married Doris Ann Nelson and had one daughter, Winderlyne McCarver. After his divorce, he moved to Missouri City, TX to assist his sister & her husband in the management of their drapery and upholstery business. John always talked about going back to college to get his degree. So, John eventually enrolled in Texas Southern University where he graduated in 1995 with a BS in Mathematics. He was thrilled to finally get his BS Degree. After graduation, John taught school for a while in Fort Bend Independent School District, Houston Independent School District, and later for the Brown Schools, Inc. at the Harris County Juvenile Justice Detention Center on West Dallas in Houston until retiring.

John loved listening to classical/ blues /jazz music, reading, walking/ jogging, watching professional sports on TV, laughing, having fun with family and friends, and teaching school. He also loved to play chess, checkers, and dominoes; and he was good at it.

John Levi McCarver, 71, peacefully died July 1, 2020 in Houston TX after a short illness. John touched the lives of many people with his smile and generosity, as he maintained his trademark laugh. We were blessed to have had John in our life. He will be missed, dearly.

He leaves to cherish his memory: his daughter, Winderlyne McCarver Gibson & husband Tony Gibson of Houston, TX; grandchildren, Semoria and Autumn Gibson, Houston, TX; his sister & her husband, Betty McCray Smith & Daniel Smith of Missouri City, TX; two nieces: Karen McCray of Missouri City, TX and Danita Farrow & husband Ricky Farrow of Sugar Land, TX; a favorite cousin & friend, Reginald King & wife Becky King of Longview, Texas; a host of other cousins, relatives and friends. 

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