Carver Shivers

Carver Edmund Shivers was born on November 9, 1954, in Pampanga, Philippines to Clarence and Evelyn Shivers. He was the younger brother to sisters Karen and Sandra. His father Clarence was a Captain in the United States Air Force group known as the “Tuskegee Airmen” or “Red Tails,” and flew many missions in WWII and the Korean War. Later his father became an accomplished artist and sculptor, most notably creating the “The Tuskegee Airman” statue on display at the U.S. Air Force Academy. His mother Evelyn was an educator, the daughter of Edward and Hannah Mae Fields, owners of the historical Hermitage Hotel in St. Louis featured in the famous “Negro Motorist Green Book.” Carver spent his early years traveling around the world as a self-proclaimed “Air Force brat.” This upbringing played a significant role in molding the man he would become.

Carver was rambunctious and full of energy, so his father wanted his nickname to be “Rusty.” However, his sister Karen repeatedly mispronounced it “Busty” and it stuck. Carver “Busty” Shivers enjoyed spending time with his family, visiting aunts, uncles, and cousins. He would frequently visit his Aunt Edwinna and Uncle Jim Gilliam Jr, a Major League Baseball player for the L.A. Dodgers in the 1950s and 60s, and was the bat boy for the team. He and his cousins Yvette and Darryl socialized with famous people: playing catch with Willie Mays, getting a ride from Sandy Koufax, and attending pool parties with the Jackson 5. Carver played minor league baseball and college football at the U.S. Air Force Academy. He routinely visited his Aunt Dorothy or “Ditty Bo” and Uncle Herbert in Dallas, spending time with his cousins Carla and Anita. He also visited his aunt Dolores “Lucy” and uncle Pierre also in Dallas and his cousin Pierre Jr. who called him his “big brother.” He cherished going to Pennsylvania to see his uncle Ed and aunt Judi Fields and cousins Donna, Jan, and Eddie Jr. Over the many years “Busty” forged a strong loving bond with his family.

Carver Shivers grew up in various cities in the U.S. as well as in Asia and Europe, graduating from Torrejon High School in Spain before attending the U.S. Air Force Academy. He served in the Vietnam War, piloting the F4 aircraft on several reconnaissance missions. He was an exceptional airman and won many awards at air shows for aerobatics. Moved by his passion for aviation and aeronautics, he became an aerospace engineer and worked at Rocketdyne, Hughes Aircraft, McDonnell Douglas, and Lockheed Martin. He was part of the teams responsible for designing the

Space Shuttle Main Engines and writing the Space Shuttle flight simulator program for training astronauts. He became an active member in the Houston Chapter of the Bronze Eagles Flying Club, hosting Houston Air Shows and Fly Ins, and offering flights to underprivileged youths.

Carver met the love of his life Louise Gooden in 1976, an engineering student working at Rocketdyne. Louise soon discovered that Carver had a very selective palate. When a friend’s mother offered him Jamaican fruitcake - something neither he nor Louise enjoyed - Carver politely declined saying, “I’m sorry, I’m allergic, but she’ll take my piece!” and promptly handed Louise 2 slices. Carver and Louise were married in August 1979 in Las Vegas Nevada. They lived in California and later moved to Webster, Texas. Carver and Louise eventually had two sons, Garrett Scott Shivers and Jordan Edward Shivers and settled in Clear Lake, Texas. They were a strong family unit and were practically inseparable.

Carver and Louise also welcomed a number of nieces and nephews in their home for extended stays, including Shavonda, Brandon and Aaron. He was especially fond of Phillip, who he raised as his own son for 8 years. Carver loved coaching, spending countless hours at his sons’ baseball, basketball, football, and track events. He especially loved taking his family on trips in the family airplane, Grumman “Cheetah.”

Later Carver transitioned into a post-aerospace career to pursue his other passion: art. Like his father, Carver was an exceptional artist. In 1990 he and his wife started Shivers Photography and began an illustrious career in portrait and wedding photography. Carver was an active member of the Oil Painters of America (OPA) and the Portrait Society of America (PSA). In 1999 he was appointed a Certified Professional Photographer and later earned the prestigious degree of Photographic Craftsman in 2008, awarded to an elite group of photographers numbering less than 200 in the world. An award-winning photographer, Carver was elected the President of the Professional Photographer’s Guild of Houston in 2005, the largest guild within the Professional Photographer’s Association of America. He was personally mentored by internationally acclaimed photographer Phillip Stewart Charis. Later he became an artist and painter.

However, the most important adventure Carver embarked on was his spiritual journey. He was originally contacted by Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1972 when he first subscribed to the Watchtower magazine. Over the decades he studied the Bible with a plethora of ministers. Despite his initial reservations, he gradually gained an appreciation for God’s

Word. He credited his wife’s loving and patient example, his sons’ zeal for the ministry and the many supportive friends, especially Leo Acklin to his eventual acceptance of his faith. Carver was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses on July 14, 2012, in Rosenberg Texas, nearly 40 years after his first contact with The Truth. He was a very loving brother, and he enjoyed spending time with many spiritual brothers and sisters giving them encouragement and making them laugh and smile. His favorite scripture sums up his love and appreciation for his God, Jehovah in the warm appeal at Isaiah 48:18, “If only you would pay attention to my commandments! Then your peace would become just like a river and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.”

Carver died on November 16, 2025. He is preceded in death by his parents Clarence Shivers and Evelyn Fields Hobbs, stepfather Thaddeus Hobbs, Sister Sandra Jenkins, grandparents Edward and Hannah Mae Fields and Clarence and Flossie Shivers. He is survived by his wife Louise Shivers, Sister Karen Bauer (husband Edward), sons Garrett Shivers (wife Ashleigh) and Jordan Shivers as well as a host of beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, and hundreds of spiritual brothers and sisters.

Despite Carver’s years of illness, loving family, decade long friendships, incredible nurses, therapists, and doctors, kind neighbors, and a supportive spiritual brotherhood brought years of joy, laughter, love and happiness to Carver and his family. You know who you are! Proverbs 18:24 says, “But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Thank you for your love and kindness!