Melvin Carver

Melvin R. Carver, 78, of DuQuoin, Ill., formerly of Cape Girardeau, passed away Wednesday, April 20, 2005, at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale in Carbondale, Ill.

He was born Feb. 17, 1927, in Hayesville, N.C., son of James Marion and Retta March Davis Carver. He and Carolyn A. Austill were married Feb. 7, 1970, in Advance, Mo.

Mel was former owner of Mel's Diner in Cape Girardeau. He was a member of Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in DuQuoin.

He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.

Survivors include his wife; eight children, William James Carver and wife Katie of McClure, Ill., Catherine Johanna Carver of California, Cynthia Ross Orcutt and husband Kirk of Port Orchard, Wash., Debra Melita Baltzell and husband Billy of Battlefield, Mo., Mark Steven Carver and wife Lisa of Cape Girardeau, Cynthia Ann Blaise and husband Harold Pepper of DuQuoin, James Terrial Carver and wife Laurie of DuQuoin, Crystal Gayle Harsy and husband Brice of DuQuoin; a brother, Paul Carver of Walnut Grove, Mo.; two sisters, Joyce Stevens of Temecula, Calif., and Doris Dewey of Grand Junction, Colo.

Also surviving are 20 grandchildren, James Evan, Mike and wife Aimee, Jeff and wife Lorianne, Sharon and husband Chris, Jennifer and husband Timothy, Brian, Justin, Adam, Jordan, Clayton, Christina and husband Johnnie, Mehgann, Justin and wife Tobi, Jack, Jon, Riley, McKinley, Addison, Ian, and Benjamin; and 12 great-grandchildren, Andrew, Austin, Alan, Noah, Joshua, Megan, Callen, Chase, Lacy, Brianna, Maci and Jacie.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and eight siblings, Troy Carver, Stella Bills, Ann Pierce, Bill Carver, Clifton Carver, Lois Kinderknacht, Lillian Barraclough and James Carver.

The funeral will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in DuQuoin.

Friends may call at Searby Funeral Home in DuQuoin from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home, with Brice Harsy delivering the eulogy.

Friends may make memorials to the donor's choice and will be accepted at the funeral home.