Michael Gene Carver

Michael Gene Carver was born on September 23, 1957. He passed away on June 11, 2022. He was the third child of George and Georgia Carver. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Dr. Katherine Abernathy-Carver MD, and two incredible daughters Christine and Michelle Carver. His siblings Jenette Carver, Lee Carver, Bobby (Rita Jo) Carver, Suzanne (Tony) Sandoval, and John (Hilda) Carver also survived him, along with numerous nieces and nephews. He was born and raised in Las Cruces New Mexico, a true native. He graduated from Mayfield High School in 1975 and then attended NMSU. While in college he spent a summer in Chihuahua Mexico and became fluent in Spanish. Michael graduated in 1981 with a BS in Biology and a BA in Chemistry. In college while doing a Cooperative Education program in Kansas City he met the love of his life, Kathy. They were married in April of 1984. He moved to Lake Charles Louisiana after college and worked in the Environmental Department for a chemical plant. His job was to clean up the environment, which he felt passionate about. He came to love Cajun food and culture, spending his spare time fishing, swimming, and camping. Of course every Mardi Gras was spent in New Orleans. However the travel road was calling and he left in 1985 to take a 6 month vacation with Kathy.

It was the first international trip of many. They spent 2 months in Equador and Peru exploring Inca ruins, including Machu Picchu. They saw the Nazca lines in a poorly maintained Cessna aircraft and lived to tell the tale. They explored the Amazon jungle and drank pisco in Banos. They then spent 4 months backpacking in the Canadian Rockies with their dog Dusty. They explored Jasper, Banff and all places in between. Michael and Kathy returned to New Mexico so she could attend medical school, a goal which he firmly supported. He landed a job working for the state of New Mexico as a safety compliance officer and finally worked for Ethicon as a safety manager where he stayed for years. When Kathy moved to Denver for fellowship training, Michael worked in Boulder Colorado for a company making an artificial blood product. They returned to New Mexico in 1994. Both Michael and Kathy fell in love with the East Mountains and eventually settled in Cedar Crest. There they found a welcoming, supportive community, which sustained them through all the years ahead. Michael was able to fulfill his dream of owning a microbrewery. He opened Cabezon Inc, where he brewed and bottled beer in 1995. He went on to bottle water, sodas, and multiple spirits. While he worked there, he and Kathy brought two amazing children into their lives. He retired in 2011 planning to be a stay home Dad for his two daughters, soccer coach and all. Three months later he was diagnosed with metastatic kidney cancer. It was a devastating diagnosis. However, like everything else in his life he put all he had into beating it. He survived over 10 years, which was a miracle, and a testament to the amazing care he received from UNM Cancer Center as well as his absolute determination to live. Michael loved life and lived it to the fullest.

He made lifelong friends from high school through college and throughout his career. His friends and family meant the world to him. He often said "you can't have too many friends". When he was diagnosed with cancer he said " there are the stickers and the runners" referring to how people handled his diagnosis. He was forever grateful to the stickers. Many called, visited, took him fishing, to lunch, cabining and kept in touch during very hard years. One of Michael's other loves was travel. He traveled extensively. His favorite way was without reservations. "Just go where you wanted when you wanted". He saw England, Wales, Scotland, Italy (with side trips to France and Switzerland), Chile, Argentina, China, New Zealand, Bermuda, many parts of Mexico and the Caribbean, Spain, The Galapagos, Costa Rica and much of the USA including Alaska and Hawaii. Michael was a strong, stubborn, determined, headstrong, lovely person. He fought with everything he had to stay on this precious earth that he loved so much. He will be greatly missed.

A celebration of his life will take place at FRENCH - Lomas, 10500 Lomas Blvd NE on July 2, 2022 from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Please bring a story either written or in your head to share. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the UNM Cancer Center or the charity of your choice.