Lila Lee Carver

Lila Lee Carver, 89, went to Heaven on Friday, April 25, 2025. She had suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and is free of that pain now. A Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, located at 316 Vine Street, in Center Point, Iowa, where the family will greet friends from 9:00 a.m. until the service time. The Reverend Thomas Van Hemert will officiate. Interment will follow at Center Point Cemetery in Center Point. Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Center Point is assisting the family.

Lila was born May 26, 1935, in Center Point, Iowa, to Lyle and Inez (Waterbury) Frank. She lived in Center Point her entire life and graduated from Center Point High School. Lila treasured her faith and her family. She married her high school sweetheart, Donald Alvern Carver, on May 16, 1952, and together they raised four children. Lila and Don always encouraged their children to chase their dreams, even if it led them far from home.

Lila was a dedicated mother, who stayed at home to provide a loving and nurturing home until the youngest went to college. With her children grown, Lila attended classes and received certification as a librarian. She served as the librarian of the Center Point Public Library for many years.

Lila loved the Lord and served Him throughout her life as a Sunday School, confirmation class, and Vacation Bible School Teacher. She instilled the love of Jesus in her children and was proud to share her faith with others.

It’s rare to say someone was “loved by all,” but Lila truly was. She exuded a sense of joy and peace, and it was evident to all who knew her. Even in the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease, her sparkling eyes and sweet smile endeared her to those who knew her.

Besides her family, faith, and friends, Lila loved to read, garden, and take care of the birds and squirrels in her yard. Birds would visit her Center Point porch to sing to her and squirrels literally ate out of her hand. Lila also loved the many pets she had over the years. Lila was a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), tracing her ancestry back to Daniel Waterbury of Connecticut, a lieutenant in the Revolutionary War.

Lila and Don took their children on lots of adventures throughout the years, usually staying in a cabin or small motel. Lila could take about any pantry ingredient and turn it into a delicious meal for her family of six. She was a wonderful cook and always made sure her children had their favorite meal and a homemade cake on their birthday, even when they were adults.

Lila was preceded in death by her husband, Don; daughter, Patti Kay (Carver) Davis; and her parents. Lila’s family mourns the earthly presence of this amazing woman but rejoices in the confidence that she is with Jesus and is reunited with Don, Patti and others in Heaven.

Left to cherish her memory are children, Peggy Ann (Dave Humphrey) Carver of Ridgefield, Washington, Richard Dean (Rachel) Carver of Edgewood, New Mexico, and Polly Marie (Todd Kimm) Carver-Kimm of Urbandale, Iowa; and sister, Susan (Ron) Heins of Vinton, Iowa. Lila’s grandchildren include: Charlie (Eryn) Davis of Indianola, Iowa, Lauren (Adam Bernstein) Humphrey of Culver City, California, Emily Humphrey of Portland, Oregon, Joe (Jenny) Carver of Flagstaff, Arizona, Ben (Amy) Carver of Flagstaff, Jon (Courtney) Carver of Flagstaff, Hannah Carver of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Tara (Jordan) Brown of Story City, Iowa, Kaitlin (Bruce) Alter of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Trevor (Lauren) Kimm of Nashville, Tennessee. Her eight great-grandchildren include: Audrina, Brynlee, Cayla and Jordan Jr. Brown (Tara & Jordan), Soren Carver (Joe & Jenny), James Carver (Ben & Amy), and Lila Alter (Kaitlin & Bruce), with a ninth on the way.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations in Lila’s memory be directed to the nonprofit “Friends of the Center Point Public Library”, 720 Main Street, Center Point, Iowa 52213.

The family would also like to express their sincere gratitude and appreciation to all the staff at the Vinton Lutheran Home and with Compassus Hospice most recently, for the kind and loving compassion they provided to Lila (and her husband, Don) during their final years.