Jeffray Carl Carver

Jeffray Carver
Ephraim, UT

Jeffray Carl Carver passed away on July 26, 2021 in Ephraim, UT at the age of 64, after  battling Multiple Sclerosis since 2001.  Jeff was born on January 21, 1957 in Salt Lake City, UT to Karl Raymond and Betty Lorain Boyd Carver.  He spent his early years living on the Avenues in Salt Lake City and then moving to Granger where he attended elementary.  When 8 years old he and his family moved to Arvada, Colorado while his father worked for Bill Heinrich and Associates.  He attended Russell Elementary during that time.  When he was 10, his father went to work for the Pfizer Corporation and the family moved back to Utah and located in Murray and then later back to Granger where he attended Granger Elementary, Valley Jr. High and Granger High Schools.  During these years his family bought a small farm in Manti, UT where his grandmother lived and his father was from.  Jeff and his siblings loved to go to Manti as often as possible, loving the country life and having made many friends in Manti.  They loved camping and riding motorcycles in the mountains.

Jeff loved scouting and earned his Eagle Scout award while living in Salt Lake.  He often stated that one of his greatest role models was his Scoutmaster, Doug Day, who inspired him greatly, was a great example and mentor to him, and for who he was always grateful to have known.

In 1973, Jeff and two of his best friends, spent the summer in Hawaii working for Dole Pineapple Company, working in the fields on the small island of Lanai.  Although it was hard work, he often spoke of his experience that summer as one of the best experiences of his youth.

During the summer of his junior and senior year of high school the family decided to move from Salt Lake to Manti permanently so that they could enjoy living in the country.  Jeff and his brother Kerry had been hoping for this for a long time, and Betty and Ray also realized that it would be a better atmosphere for their younger sister Tiffany, who had special needs.  A few of Jeff’s best friends from Salt Lake also made the move to Sanpete at the same time because they had been coming with him to Manti for several years and enjoying the same atmosphere that the small community brought.

Jeff graduated from Manti High in 1975.  He attended Snow College for a short time and then served an LDS mission to Los Angeles, CA.  Upon returning home from his mission he returned to Snow College and also went to work for Namrok West in Ephraim.  Namrok later relocated to Midvale Utah and Jeff relocated with the company.  One day, while visiting his parents in Manti, he met Carol Lynn Funk and they began dating.  They were married on February 23, 1979 in the Manti Temple, and resided shortly in Salt Lake City.  Yearning to get back to the country, Jeff went to work in the mining industry in 1980 where he remained for the next 38 years.  During those years he worked for Southern Utah Fuel Company (Sufco), and was chosen as one of the first 7 crew members to open the new Skyline Mine operation which was a joint venture between Coastal States Energy and Getty Oil Company which opened in October of 1981.  During most of his Skyline years the family lived in Fairview, UT.  When the Skyline Mine idled for a year, due to water inundation, Jeff transferred back to Sufco where he remained until his health issues forced him to retire in 2018.  Most of his career was spent in leadership positions including shift supervisor and surface manager.  He loved what he did for a living, as well as those who he worked with.  He often said, “It’s hard, but it’s in my blood and I love it”.

During the 1980's, Jeff and Carol were raising a young family and Jeff and his brother Kerry loved flying.  They began a small ultralight dealership and carried the “Wizard” brand of aircraft.  They both really enjoyed this hobby together.  In the late 1980's, Jeff began making small hand held survival tools as a hobby, which later turned into a small business which was called Horseshoe Mountain Firestarters.  The business grew quickly and soon the product was carried in several large retail chain stores, including Sportsman's Warehouse.  Seeing that he was “burning the candle at both ends” he knew that something had to give as his health problems progressed, and he sold the Firestarter business to his brother Kerry.

Jeff always considered his greatest blessings to be his family and friends.  He often stated that his family was his reason for living.  As a family they always took the time to make family memories together, taking vacations as often as possible.  He loved time spent with his wife, 3 children and 5 grandchildren.  Some of their best times were at the condo in Park City or Florida together.  They also enjoyed time camping and fishing at Henry’s Lake in Idaho with Jeff’s dear friends, Russell Nielson and his family from Manti.  One of his greatest loves was his sister, Tiffany, who he shared a special bond with and was an important part of his life for as long as he lived.

Jeff and Carol enjoyed traveling together, and took several cruises as well as several trips to Europe.  Jeff also enjoyed NASCAR racing and traveled to several races around the country with his good friend Kevin Swanson.  Other hobbies included bass fishing, hunting, camping and prospecting, which he loved to share with family and friends.

In spite of his illness, he tried his best to shun it off and live as full a life as possible and enjoy the family and friends that he was blessed with.  He always considered himself a very blessed and lucky person.  He often said, “I’ve pretty much done everything I wanted to do, and been everywhere I wanted to go, and in the process have been blessed with the greatest family and lifelong friends that anyone could as for...I’ve lived about five lifetimes full of experiences in one”.

Jeff was always active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in several capacities including the bishopric.  He spent his life serving his family, friends and neighbors.  He had a special place in his heart for people with special needs.  Jeff loved his heritage and enjoyed reading and studying all that he could about his rich ancestry.

He is survived by his loving wife, Carol; children, Cory Carver, Katie (Jeff) Cox, and Scott Carver; grandchildren, Jaden Carver, Barton Carver, Lauren Carver, Callan Beck and Cai Beck; brother, Kerry (Kim) Carver and sister, Tiffany Carver. He was preceded in death by his father, Ray; mother, Betty; grandparents, Karl Carver and Roein Kenner; Emmett Boyd and Leona Boyd.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, August 3, 2021 at 12:00 Noon in the Ephraim 9th Ward Chapel, 765 South 100 East.  Viewings will be held at the church on Tuesday, August 2 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. and also prior to services from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Interment will be in the Manti City Cemetery.  Online guestbook at www.maglebymortuary.com  Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti.