Regina M. Carver

Dateline: Golden Eagle
Regina Margaret Deken Carver, last surviving progeny and youngest daughter of Charles A and Theresia J Peters Deken of Glennonville, Missouri born 10/12/1937, entered eternal rest 10/28/2025.
Regina's early accomplishments, which she frequently recalled, include academic success in her high school years and acceptance as one of the first women to attend Rolla School of the Mines, where she caught the eye of a fellow student who would shortly become her husband.
She and Carl Carver were united in marriage in 1956 and started their family soon after.
Carl and Regina spent time in Texas, Illinois, West Virginia and Virginia before settling in Fulton, Missouri.
After taking a hiatus from formal education to raise her children, Regina returned to school at Columbia College and earned her Bachelor's degree.
Regina lived a life of service to others, to her family, to the Catholic Church, to the community through her work with Services for Independent Living in Columbia Missouri, and after retirement, as a volunteer along with her husband at the Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge in Calhoun County, Illinois.
Regina's interests in gardening, drawing, journaling, genealogical research, and love of the natural world blossomed after she and Carl retired and moved to Calhoun County Illinois. There each morning held the promise of a new experience discovering a wildflower blossom, spotting a soaring eagle, catching a glimpse of fox or the occasional bobcat, or sipping coffee on the back deck and watching a river boat rambling down the Mississippi.
Her final act of service was donation of her body to St Louis University Science Department with the goal of helping to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease.
Regina was preceded in death by her husband Carl, her parents and her nine brothers and sisters: Clemens, George, Sylvester, Theresia, Charlotta, Evaristus, Evaline, Hyacinth, and Alphonsus. She is survived by her children and their spouses: Cecile (Dean McPeak), Karla( Randy Beck) Gretchen (Chris Beatty) Paul (Kelly Street) and Heidi; her grandchildren and their spouses Jonathan (Elena), Daniel(Sarah), Rachel (Josh), Johanna, Max, Jessica, Christopher(Monica) and great grandchildren Amelia, Anna, Elliott, Andrew, Calder, Lachlan, and Jordan, and many nieces and nephews.
Special thanks to those who helped through the most difficult last days including Margaret, Sandy, Jessica, caring staff members at Addington/Chapters, the care team at Anderson Hospital, Hospice of Southern Illinois and her special friend, Dennis, a true gentleman and delightful dinner companion who reassured Regina when needed and wished her goodnight at the end of each day.
Donations in Regina's memory may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.