In Honor of Root Beer Barrels (& Leslie George Harrison Carvour)
"In Honor of Root Beer Barrels"
candy A Memorial Tribute to
LESLIE G. H. CARVOUR  1918-1999 		candy

The title of this page was taken from the Eulogy given at my Uncle Les' funeral service on October 4th, 1999 at Victory Praise Center, Des Moines, IA.
Written by Martha Carvour and delivered by her mother, Mary, it captured the very essence of her Grandfather and rekindled in each of us our fondest memories of this man we were all very fortunate enough to have known and loved within our lifetime.
I've taken the liberty of reprinting the Eulogy at the bottom of this page for those who were unable to attend the service, and for others to catch a glimpse of this wonderful soul.

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Photo Leslie George Harrison Carvour was born February 28th, 1918 in Cleveland, Ohio to George Bill & Liddie Mae (Cress) Carvour and lived most of his 81 years in Des Moines, Iowa.
He was a station agent for the Rock Island Railroad, and had been employed by Solar Aircraft and Super Value warehouse before retiring.
An Army Air Corps veteran of World War II and member of the teamsters, Les loved all that God and life had to offer. Some of the things he enjoyed were golf, hunting, fishing, camping, collecting hubcaps, laughter and... of course, Root Beer Barrel Candies.
He was a loving and devoted Son, Husband, Father, Grandfather, Uncle, Brother, Brother-in-Law, Patriot and Friend, always ready and eager to bring laughter and joy to those around him. I remember well the twinkle in his eyes, his grin after telling a joke, and the interest and enthusiasm he showed each one of us. This was a man who truly was interested in those around him. He would listen and be there, no matter how young or old you were, always ready to lend you a hand, deal the next round of cards, share a joke and leave you smiling inside and out.
         After battling illness for the past few years, Leslie G.H. Carvour died of a heart ailment October 1st, 1999 at Carlisle Care Center, Carlisle, Iowa. Visitation was held from 2 to 5pm October 3rd, 1999 at Hamilton's Funeral Home. Reverend Terry Collier presided over the funeral service on October 4th, 1999 at Victory Praise Center, Des Moines, Iowa where mourners and well-wishers gathered from all over the country. Music Selections performed by Jack and Lois Moberg were "He Touched Me" and "What A Day That Will Be"  and the Congretional Hymn was "Blessed Assurance".
The Eulogy was written by Martha Carvour, read by Mary Carvour and, as mentioned above, appears below. Pallbearers listed were Donald Huisman, Dennis Huisman, Ernie Stebbins, Kenneth Huisman, James Huisman, and Bee J. Gilbert with Matthew Carvour and Dennis McNab as Honorary Pallbearers.
Interment was at Highland Memory Gardens, Des Moines, Iowa after which Family and Friends returned to the church for a reception.
         Les is survived by his wife, Beatrice; Son, Mickey of Altoona, Ia.; Daughters, Susan Adams of Cheyenne, Wy. and Barbara Fjordbak of Riverside, Ia.; Five Grandchildren; Three Great-Grandchildren; and the many of us who share in their loss.
D.K.C. 10-5-99

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"In Honor of Root Beer Barrels"
By Martha Carvour

If a picture is worth a thousand words, an action is worth ten million. As grandchildren, my brother and I would never have learned what we did from my grandfather had he lined us up on a couch and proceeded to tell us everything we needed to know about life. Instead, Grandpa understood that the best way to live life -- and teach others about it -- was simply to do it more than you talk about it. And he knew that the best way to be a grandpa was to be just like a kid.

I remember his wonderful sense of humor, his jokes and stories... each so good that we wanted to the hear the same repeated every time we saw him. I can recall the fishing and camping trips, big train set, pool table, dominos, and seemingly endless mass of games he had created for our enjoyment. I will never forget some of his amusing endeavors -- from maintaining a clean-cut, squirrel-free yard to faithfully waxing the car, from polishing the whole family's shoes to keeping a trusty stash of root beer barrels almost everywhere he went. And I will always fondly remember his creativity, his ability to make us practically roll on the floor with laughter while he just sat there and smiled, soaking up every giggle from his audience. He loved to joke and play, to bring joy to those around him. And he did it masterfully. In his basement was a big, old television set. Whenever we would visit, he would ask us to turn it on. Of course, we couldn't so he would offer to help us. Telling us to stand back, he would point his finger at the screen, and, without fail, the set would somehow come on. Astonished, we would ask -- practically beg -- to know how he did it. Never once did he divulge that secret; and to this day, no one knows how he did it... not even Grandma. I know that if he were sitting in the back of this room today, he would probably be getting quite a hearty chuckle out of that. That was my Grandpa -- good natured, generally content, and the absolute life of the party.

This wasn't because he lived in some pristine reality. In fact, he grew up during the Great Depression, served in World War II, and worked many long hours in a warehouse. And yet, he chose to define himself not by life's difficulties, but by how he responded to them. And that is how he will always be remembered. He lived life for life... for the simple joys of a good laugh and a handful of root beer barrels. And he lived life for others... faithfully to God, family, and country, all the while teaching us more by the way he lived than words could ever express.

As his twilight approached, he was unable to communicate as he had before. But one phrase he never forgot -- "right there". For many months, I wondered why... after all his life... those two words solely remained. Now, however, I realize that his life, and his legacy, can be defined by those words. He always was exactly that -- right there. When someone needed quiet comfort, he was right there. When someone needed support, he was right there. And when a room full of bored people needed a side-splitting laugh, he was right there. And in the end, he still is right there... in heaven... and right here... in our hearts.
4 October 1999

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