Kerlon Shives

Mr. Kerlon Shives, 93, of Zavalla, Texas went to be with his Lord on Tuesday, May 4, 2021. He was born in Sulphur Springs TX, on January 8, 1928 to William and Rosa Shives.

Kerlon was an adventurous person at heart who never had a dull moment. From the time he was a child he could always be found playing tops, washers, or horseshoes and would always come home from school with a pocket full of marbles. Kerlon’s favorite time of the year was always Christmas, he would be filled with joy to find a new pair of socks and an apple gifted to him from Santa. One of his proudest moments was at the age of 10, when he pronounced his faith in God and was baptized in Sandy Creek. As Kerlon got older his hobbies grew to include listening to Joe Lewis fight on the radio at R.E. Grimes’ house, sneaking into the picture shows with his friends, and hunting squirrels in hopes of mama making her famous and frequently sought-after squirrel dumplings. When Kerlon graduated high school in May of 1947, he and his buddies were eager to serve their country in World War II, however one of them, Darwin, didn’t weigh enough, so they fed him bananas all night and the next morning when he met the weight requirement, they all enlisted. After Kerlon was honorably discharged from the Army in 1948, he met the love of his life, Edith Mae Toms and they were joined in marriage on March 21, 1949 in Clawson, Texas. Kerlon’s family was the most precious thing in his life, and he devoted his life to supporting and caring for his wife and three children.  In 1950, Uncle Sam called upon him once more to serve his country in the Korean war. He served at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas, in the military police and Fire Brigade until 1951. After his time in the military, Kerlon started his career at Texas Power and light Company and worked scrupulously for 18 and a half years. In 1971 he started working for Lufkin Telephone Exchange for 11 years before he retired. Kerlon and Edith helped build Lakewood Baptist Church, in Zavalla Texas, where he served as a charter member, he then moved to Johnson Missionary Baptist Church in Zavalla, Texas, where he offered his labor in helping to remodel and add on to the building. He took great pride in being able to serve the Lord through his prominent activities with the church, and when he was no longer able to offer physical labor, he still contributed through his weekly offerings. Kerlon loved gardening and was always there to help Edith can and put away the vegetables they grew. One time he decided to grow watermelons and traded the whole patch to his brother for a guitar and a pistol, even though he never learned to play the guitar and he had no bullets for the pistol. Kerlon was an experienced angler and could often be found enjoying his time at the creek or working on wood projects with his friend Mr. C. Although he was notorious to most fish that would meet him, his catfish would think differently, as he spent every morning waking them up with a cowbell to be fed.

Kerlon Shives was a kind, loving, and caring man, who had a great impact on those who knew him. He was a faithful servant of God for his entire life, and as he passes on from this world he is undoubtedly meeting God as a friend.

Kerlon is preceded in death by his parents, William Allen Shives and Rosa Mae (Grimes) Shives; and his siblings: Vivian Shives, Aileen Shives, Melvin Shives, Glyndon Shives, Fleta Havard, and Kelly Havard.

Left to cherish Kerlon’s memory and carry on his legacy is his beloved wife of 72 years, Edith Mae Shives of Zavalla; his children: Kathleen Gilliland of Driftwood, Jeff Shives of Zavalla, and Greg Shives and wife Becky of Celeste; his grandchildren: Kimberly Thomas and husband Chip of Temple, Kelli Moore and husband Rick of Rockwall, Jamie Gaertner and husband Buddy of Driftwood, Rebecca Grove of Tioga, Christopher Shives and wife Crystal of Zavalla, Allison Anderton and husband Kyle of Tarkington Prairie, and Gregory Shives of Farmersville; his great-grandchildren: Taylor Moore, Morgan Thomas, Peyton Moore, Johnathan Thomas, Brett Grove, Alex Grove, Carson Shives, Carter Grove, Kenzie Shives, Cooper Gaertner, Camden Gaertner, Kamryn Anderton, Karly Anderton, Jonah Shives, and Kinley Anderton; as well as many extended family members, friends, and colleagues over the years.

A time of visitation will be held on Monday, May 10, 2021 at Johnson Missionary Baptist Church in Zavalla, TX from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Funeral Services for Mr. Shives will follow the visitation and begin at 12:00 PM on Monday, May 10, 2021. Mr. Shives will be laid to rest at Zavalla Cemetery in Zavalla, TX following the funeral services.

Serving as Pallbearers will be: Johnathan Thomas, Chip Thomas, Rick Moore, Christopher Shives, Carson Shives, Kyle Anderton, and Brett Grove. Honorary Pallbearers are his great-grandchildren: Taylor Moore, Morgan Thomas, Peyton Moore, Alex Grove, Carter Grove, Kenzie Shives, Cooper Gaertner, Camden Gaertner, Kamryn Anderton, Karly Anderton, Jonah Shives, and Kinley Anderton.

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