Linward Paul Shivers

Linward Paul Shivers' birth certificate may say that he was born at home in Waskom, Texas, on December 2, 1930, to Henry Grady Shivers and Mattie Mae (Tiller) Shivers, but "Lin" (and later in life "Papa") always claimed Elysian Fields, Texas, as his home. On April 6, 2016, Lin left this world to return to the Elysian Fields. His 85 years on this earth were incredibly full and life-giving to those around him.

As a child, Lin lived in a variety of small towns in east Texas (including Waskom, Elysian Fields, Grand Saline, and Carthage) as his father spent his career in the local educational systems. Lin's father eventually became a high school superintendent and then retired to Carthage to establish a dairy business on the family farm with his family. During his senior year of high school, Lin had to get up at 5:30 in the morning to help milk the cows before catching the bus to school at 7:30. Lin decided then and there that being a dairy farmer did not suit him. After graduating from Carthage High School in 1948, Lin attended the University of Texas at Austin, graduating six years later with both a B.A. and a J.D. After practicing law in Carthage with Leroy LaSalle (and occasionally helping out at the family dairy), Lin returned to Austin in 1957 permanently to work as an Assistant Attorney General with childhood friend and college roommate, Tim Timmins, in the Texas Attorney General's Office. On December 22, 1959, he married Beverly Joan Oyler of Chicago, whom he had courted remotely for three years primarily via heartfelt love letters. Lin and Beverly had met at the wedding of their respective friends, Tim and Nancy Lee Timmins. Lin remained for 20 years with the Attorney General's Office before moving to the Office of General Counsel of the University of Texas System. There he spent another 20 years practicing law before retiring and traveling the world (including multiple trips to France) with his beloved wife, Beverly, and enjoying his five grandchildren and extended family. Despite his dedicated and distinguished service to the State of Texas and the University of Texas System, family always came first for Lin as he and Beverly raised their three children and stayed closely connected to their larger families. His children will always fondly remember their summers while growing up spent traveling the country in the family station wagons (with a huge ice chest and bags of snack food inside and the luggage strapped to the luggage rack outside) visiting national parks, historical sites and, of course, family and friends.

Lin will be remembered for his positive attitude, his generous heart, his love of people, and his propensity to make new friends, even up to the final days of his life. He drew his strength from being with family and friends so it was fitting that his last few days were filled with friends and family members stopping by to share in this sacred season of life.

Lin is preceded in death by his parents, Henry Grady and Mattie Mae Shivers; brother Henry Grady Shivers, Jr.; and sister-in-law Joanne Prine Shivers. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Beverly; sister-in-law, Laura Allison Shivers, of Carthage; brother, Roland Douglas Shivers, and wife, Tiajuana, of Carthage; sister, Doris Shivers Clark and husband, Dan, of Colleyville, Texas; son, Marc Tiller Shivers, and wife, Shari, of Austin; daughter, Michele Shivers Santi and husband, Paul, of Golden, Colorado; and son, David Oyler Shivers and wife, Molly, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; along with grandchildren Lauren Mae Santi, Savannah Lynne Shivers, Forrest William Shivers, Tara Allison Santi and Travis Tiller Shivers; godchildren Holland Timmins, Sonja Kristiansen, Eric Kristiansen, Mary Alis Kibler Kelly, and Charlotte Kibler Mata; and a multitude of cousins and nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, including many who were not related but still called him "Uncle Lin".

A memorial service celebrating Lin's wonderful life will be held at Tarrytown United Methodist Church, 2601 Exposition Blvd, Austin, Texas, 78703, at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 16. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Tarrytown United Methodist Church or to a charity of one's choice. There will also be a graveside service this summer in Elysian Fields, date to be determined.

The family would like to thank Dr. Grace Yeh, Dr. Jerry Fain, Dr. Arthur Smith and the doctors, nurses and staff at the Heart Hospital of Austin, Westminster Manor and Buckner Hospice for all the love and care that they have given Lin these past few years as his health declined. We were all blessed to have known and be inspired by this remarkable person.