Alfred Lee Carver

Alfred, a lifetime resident of Mesa, passed away peacefully in his own home of natural causes on December 5, 2025 at the age of 92.

Alfred was born December 13, 1932 in Mesa, Colorado to Glen Hoyt and Elnora Mayme Bevan Carver. He was the fifth generation of his family to live in Mesa County. Alfred grew up on his family's ranch and farm, north of Mesa. He attended the Mesa school from first grade until graduation from High School in 1951. He attended Mesa State College one year and was drafted for the Korean war. His heart murmur left him classified as 4F, so he wasn't allowed to serve. He married his high school sweetheart Nona Kelley Grubbs at Alexander Baptist Church, Alexander, Arkansas on January 18, 1953. They returned to Mesa after Nona graduated in May to work on the Barnard Ranch on Spring Creek. He and Nona acquired the Doug and Myrtle Harris potato farm north of his parents dairy in 1955. Alfred worked construction for ten years with Gardner Denver, Elam and others at various locations in Colorado and New Mexico.

In 1966, Glen hesitantly sold the dairy to Alfred and Nona. Ben J. Nichols convinced Glen to let Alfred try his hand at the operation, even though Glen was losing $5,000 annually. Through four major changes, Alfred turned the dairy so that it tripled production in two years. He endured having his right thumb ripped off of his hand and reattached by Doc Ziegel and having his neck broken and then fused together (C4 & C5) two years later.

In 1972, he and Nona received and accepted an offer to sell the dairy herd in total. For the next five years, he managed the office of the Fruita Consumer Co-op in Collbran and raised beef on the farm. In 1977, they sold to Ute Water retaining two acres where they had a new home built. He said he was retired, but not really. They traveled to Europe, Alaska and across the lower 48. He got his pilot license and bought a 172 Cessna, with it he made free transport for pastors and missionaries besides family and friends. He and Nona joined the Western Slope GoldWing Road Riders motorcycle club and made more friends. Alfred served at the Grand Mesa Baptist Camp, the Collbran Hospital Board and the Molina Baptist Church. He also worked two summers at Camp Woody Island, Kodiak, Alaska. Most important to Alfred was his faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Alfred was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother, Richard G. Carver. Survivors in addition to Nona include one brother, Howard (Anita); two sons Larry (Jensy) of Glenwood Springs, Darrell (Missy) of Santa Barbara; 3 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be made to

Grand Mesa Baptist Camp, P.O. Box 40, Molina, CO 81646

Molina Baptist Church, P.O. Box 70, Molina, CO 81646

HopeWest Hospice, 3090 N. 12th Street, Grand Junction, CO 81506

There will be a memorial service held at the Molina Baptist Church, 53039 KE Rd, Molina, CO 81646 on Friday, December 26, 2025 at 4pm with potluck dinner immediately following.

If you would like, please send written, audio or video of your best story of Alfred to [email protected] before December 18th and a memory video and book will be created.

We will live-stream the service and share that link with those interested. Please email [email protected] to receive a link via email the morning of the 26th.