Beaufort-Person-Durham County NcArchives Obituaries.....Carver, Leroy Abb February 10, 2011 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Linda Carver Clark sixwingedstrings@msn.com May 13, 2011, 10:35 pm Washington Daily News Leroy A. Carver February 10, 2011 Leroy Abb Carver, 85, of 303 Magnolia Drive, Washington NC, died February 10, 2011 at River Trace Nursing and Rehabilitation Center after a brief hospitalization due to a fall. Leroy was born in Cary, Durham County, NC, on October 26, 1925, son of Royall Smith and Elsie King Beavers Carver. Leroy is predeceased by: his parents, his brother, Carlton Smith Carver and his sister Elsie “Lois” Muggs Carver. During the depression, the Carver family relocated to Wilmar NC, where Leroy attended a one-room schoolhouse. His formal schooling was a completion of eleven grades. Leroy was a boy scout. Leroy served as a Coxswain in the US Navy during World War Two aboard the attack transport class USS Frederick Funston APA-89 which deployed to the Pacific theater, participating in major invasions including: Saipan, Leyte, Luzon, and Iwo Jima. His duties included transporting Seabees and Marine soldiers to South Pacific beachheads via naval landing craft. Honorably discharged--uninjured, he returned to the family home in Washington investing his GI bill monies in partnership with his father Royall Smith Carver establishing Carver’s Marine Service, a full-service machine shop and marina with retail sales, such as Chris Craft boats, Johnson outboard motors, and OMC parts. While Leroy was in the Pacific in WWII, Royall S. Carver handcrafted a wooden dredge which was in operation from 1948-1958. Leroy designed and built a new dredge of all steel construction dubbing it the Linda Marie which launched into service in 1961. Dredging operations ensued throughout coastal NC. Most notably, sand-pumping at Lake Mattamuskeet. Leroy was selected in initial dredging operations at Lee Creek for Texas Gulf Sulphur Co., TGS, digging the channel to access the phosphate ore deposits. In 1969, Leroy and his dredge crew dug the sand that created the land necessary for Stewart Parkway. Additionally, he pumped sand for the city of New Bern’s waterfront, and numerous operations which re-created waterfront property, serving federal, state and local governments--especially private citizens. Carver’s Marine Service thrived located in view of Carver’s Drive Inn, where Leroy became his widowed mother Elsie’s right arm, handling all mechanical troubleshooting keeping her once famous gas station and sandwich shop running smoothly. Leroy’s modifications on his mother’s hand-operated ice shaver made “Carver” Cokes especially delicious. Leroy’s work ethic was of inexhaustible diligence--paralled by none. His creed was: his deeds. Beloved by his customers, he mentored all who crossed his path. His employed apprentices, or just interested bystanders, whether rich, poor, noble or simple—eagerly received his tutoring. EPA government regulations all but halted marine sand-dredging in 1972. The beloved dredge and marina were sold. In 1976, Leroy and son David Leroy Carver established Carver Machine Works Inc., CMW, where Leroy’s lifetime expertise of machining, welding, and fabrication, utilized his singular metallurgical skills. Immediately a success, major corporations such as Weyerhauser and Texas Gulf realized substantial operational cost benefit via the exceptional service of Carver Machine Works . Carver Machine Works began as a family enterprise and became reputed for unparalleled quality and innovation with its scope reaching international clientele. In 1997, upon Leroy’s retirement, CMW became an employee-owned ESOP enterprise with 80 employees to date. Nutrition was another of Leroy’s keen interests. He distributed vitamins and dietary information to any interested party. A patriot of WWII, he was avidly fascinated with political issues throughout his lifetime. Carver family members received salvation and were baptized at First Baptist Church in Washington. Leroy and Phyllis also attended local churches, making many Christian friends. Leroy is survived by the former Phyllis Amanda Jefferson whom he met at the St. Moritz Restaurant—and married on December 27, 1950. Additional survivors include six children, David Leroy, his wife Wilda Guthrie Carver, Carlton Stevenson, Linda Marie, her husband Donald Clark, James Royal, a daughter-in-law Summer Latham Carver, Stephen Michael, and Mary Amanda and husband Charles Leroy Richardson Jr., Additional survivors are eleven grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, and two step great-grandchildren. A celebration of Leroy’s life will be held in the Paul Funeral Home Chapel, Sunday February 13, 2011 at 3:00 pm with Dr. James A. Moore officiating. Organist Alma Evett is musician. Burial will follow at Oakdale Cemetery. Pallbearers: sons and sons-in-law, David Leroy Carver, Carlton Stevenson Carver, James Royal Carver, Stephen Michael Carver, Donald Clark and Charles Leroy Bucky Richardson. Honorary pallbearers: grandsons, David Leroy Carver Jr., Joseph Andrew Clark, Jacob “Israel” Clark, Christopher Sean Carver, Charles Leroy Richardson, III, Daniel Levi Richardson and Jared Lee Carver. The family will receive friends from 7:00pm-9:00pm Saturday, February 12, 2011 at Paul Funeral Home of Washington. Please send any donations to the church of your choice. Online condolences may be offered to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com. Paul Funeral Home of Washington is honored to serve the Carver family. Additional Comments: Leroy Abb Carver discovered the sunken Civil War Union Army Gunboat Pickett during dredging operations in the Tar River in Washington NC in the 60's. The Carver Family donated a significant artifact which secured the cannon to the deck. The Underwater Archeological Unit at Kure Beach has the artifact and was instrumental in registering the Pickett on the National Register of Historic Sites. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/beaufort/obits/c/carver2802gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ncfiles/ File size: 6.4 Kb