Ted Neil Shaver

Ted Neil Shaver died at the age eighty-five, surrounded by his family. He was a believer in Jesus Christ and went home to be with his Savior on November 23, 2022.

Ted grew up in the Stockard Community outside of Athens, Texas and graduated from Athens Texas High School in 1955. He met his future wife, Judy Barlow, when they sat by one another in band class as they both played the tenor saxophone. The high school sweethearts were married in 1959.

Ted furthered his education at Texas A&M University in College Station and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Agriculture Education in 1959. He went on to obtain his Masters in Science in Biochemistry, and a PhD in Biochemistry in 1966. Upon completing his education in 1966, Ted began his thirty-three year career as a Research Chemist for the United States Department of Agriculture in Brownsville, Texas, and ended his career in College Station in 1999. He retired in Mabank, Texas, where he was a rancher who enjoyed being around his Black Angus cows, particularly his favorite pet cow, "Friendly."

While residing in College Station, Ted served as Co-President of the College Station Circle Squares, a square-dancing organization, and was a coach for many years for local girls' sports teams in the College Station City League. He coached and played co-rec softball with his four girls and their friends and was a founding member of the Flaming Enchiladas softball team. He served as a Deacon of his churches in Brownsville, College Station and Mabank. He was very active in the Valley Mission Team of Mabank First Baptist Church where he helped build homes and churches in the Rio Grande Valley. Additionally, he was a teacher with "Bible Beach Club" in the Mabank Public School System; he was a living testament of what it meant to be a servant and having a servant’s heart. 

Ted was loyal and lovable, yet was known to be a bit mischievous. He was passionate about his family, his friends, and his cows. He will certainly be remembered for how much he loved his girls; his wife and four daughters. He was the man they all looked up to and he could do no wrong in their eyes. Family was important to him and he loved nothing better than for all his family to be together. Ted will be remembered for his sense of humor, his loving and encouraging nature, his smile, and his funny stories about his days in the Texas A&M Corp of Cadets. He loved to work, but he really enjoyed going on cruises with friends and family and taking the church youth group water skiing on Lake Sommerville. His favorite hobbies included playing 42, fishing, hunting, golf, basketball, and co-rec softball.  Above all, he was known for being quite the grill-master and was said to cook the best steaks around! Ted lived an incredibly rich and full life serving others and doing things he enjoyed with the people he loved. He served people every chance he had to glorify God and to simply bless others.

Ted has been reunited with his parents, Thelma and Clifford Shaver; sister, Eva Darden; and brother, Harold Shaver.

He is survived by his loving wife of over 63 years, Judy Shaver; and his children, Teri Johnson and husband Donny of Liberty Hill, Texas; Susan Meadows and husband, Mark, of Keller, Texas; Sharon Graf and husband, Rob, of Celina, Texas; and Laura Feaster and husband, Bobby, of College Station. His grandchildren are Shea Johnson of Austin, Texas; Skye Crane and husband, Kyle, of Liberty Hill; Kailee McCall and husband, Travis, of Richardson, Texas; Lauren Hohlt and husband, Andrew, of Pflugerville, Texas; Samantha Meadows of Keller; Luke Lawrence and wife, Katie, of Seattle, Washington; Savannah Lawrence of Austin; Madelyn Lawrence of Austin; Jackson Graf and wife, Molly, of Aubrey, Texas; Mackenzie Graf of Dallas, Texas; Landry Graf of Celina, Texas; and Addy Feaster, Bella Feaster, and Zoey Feaster of College Station. His great-grandchildren are Hudson Crane, Chloe Crane, Henry Hohlt, Parker McCall and Shepherd McCall.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Ted’s favorite charity, “In His Hands Children’s Home”, 302 Lawrence St, Trinidad, Texas 75163 or online https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=AMG2W953BTEQN