James Barclay Carvery

Col. James Barclay Carvey LUBBOCK-On May 6, the world lost a true patriot, hero, a member of the greatest generation, and a truly honest and loyal loving family patriarch. James B. Carvey was born on June 10, 1915, (during WW1) and was the only child of Charles Milburn and Anna (Rosecrans) Carvey in Newburgh, NY. He wrote in his memoirs that he remembers a very happy childhood. He had an artistic talent that his mother nurtured. Upon graduation from high school, he joined the New York National Guard until he was accepted into West Point Military Academy. He was the illustrator for the West Point annual drawing mostly cartoons. He graduated from The Academy in June of 1939 and was handed his diploma by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. A few weeks later, he married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Florence Elizabeth Mennerich, at the Cadet Chapel at West Point. He served in WWII in many areas, and received the Purple Heart in Omaha Beach Landing. He served the Pentagon - Ft. Levenworth, England, and Ft. Banning, Korea. In 1957, he was assigned to Texas Tech as the Head of Military Science and Tactics for four years. He was responsible for getting the attention of all football fans by initiating the shooting of the cannon every time Texas Tech made a touchdown! In spite of the shock waves, he was promoted to a full Colonel. In 1961, the family was sent to Ankara, Turkey, and then to his last assignment in 1965 at the Presidio of San Francisco. He retired in 1967 and returned to Lubbock where he earned his master's degree in education. In retirement in Lubbock, he delivered Meals on Wheels for 20 years. In 1995, The Colonel (as they refer to him) moved to Midland and has resided at Manor Park for 20 years; soon after his arrival, he initiated an annual golf tournament. He rarely missed any of the Midland great-grandchildren's sports, dancing, singing and MCT performances. He enjoyed traveling, working with boy scouts, and most sports that he could play with his girls-badminton, tennis, pool, ping pong, and bowling. He was also an avid football fan. He especially loved to fish and play golf with his friends, his daughters and their families. He also continued with his drawing and painting talents until his hands became too shaky in the last 10 years. James was a fighter, a brave soldier through and through. He almost reached the age 100 despite enduring war back injuries, colon cancer, heart surgery, and in recent years several age-related ailments. He was preceded in death by his wife in 1974; his mother in 1946; his father in 1960; grandsons, Jonathon James Sossoman in 1990 and Tommy Beaugh in 2014; his brother-in-law, Arthur Mennerich in 1994; and former son-in-law, Robert Southerland in 2013. Surviving to cherish his memory are his four daughters and their husbands, Joan Elizabeth Southerland Rice (Douglas) of Midland, Texas; Lucinda Ann Sossoman (Jack) of Topeka, Kansas; Patricia Florence Stark (Mike) of Phoenix, AZ; and Jacqueline Marie Beaugh (Ray) of Rio Rancho, NM. Surviving grandchildren are: Pamela Southerland Lookabaugh (Andrew) of Midland; Sharla Southerland Hamil (Daniel) of Little Elm, Texas; Todd Sossoman and (Stacy) of Topeka, KS; Holly Sossoman Riley of Olathe, KS; Tanya Sossoman Valdez (Mario) of Corpus Christi, Texas; Nikki Stark and Samantha Stark Townsend (Bill) of Phoenix; and Ann Beaugh Johnson (Shannon) of Portland, OR; great-grandchildren, Dale Lookabaugh (Nicole) and Brooke Lookabaugh of Midland; Justin Lookabaugh of Dallas; Kayla and Brandon Telshaw of Corpus Christi; Jonathon Sossoman, Zaydan Sossoman, Zandreah Sossoman and Braidan Sossoman of Topeka, KS; Cheyenne and Chase Riley of Olathe, KS; Cynthia, Cassie, Christopher and Zack Conner of Phoenix; Ryan Johnson of Oregon; Aaron Johnson of New Mexico; and Mathew and Emma Townsend of Phoenix; young great-great-grandsons, Nolan James Lookabaugh of Midland and Korbin James Montez of Corpus Christi, Texas; as well as his sister-in-law, Ginny Mennerich of Newburgh, NY, and his four Mennerich nephews and their families. On May 14, our family will lay his body to rest beside our Mother in Peaceful Gardens in Lubbock with full military honors befitting a great and honorable man who served his country and family well. On June 10, 2015, the 100th anniversary of his birth, we will have a celebration of his life for friends and family at the Chapel in Manor Park at 2 p.m. followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, his favorite charities were West Point association of Graduates, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Sloan Kettering Memorial Cancer Center, M D Anderson Cancer Hospital, Wounded Warriors and Manor Park (to whom we express our greatest appreciation especially the staff at the Great House and Cowden Cottage who cared for him so well and lovingly).