1940 - 2025
Carroll L. (Walker) Shivers, 84, died on April 8, 2025, in Wichita.
Carroll was born on Friday, August 30, 1940, Wichita, Kansas, to Bernice L. (Blakey) Walker, a schoolteacher and homemaker, and Frank G. Walker, a former schoolteacher and a farmer.
Her growing up years were spent on a farm located three miles east and one mile north of Udall. She was the oldest of three children born to Frank and Bernice. Kathryn Ann was born March 16, 1943, and Clifford LeRoy on March 14 1949. Carroll Lynn lived an idyllic life on the farm, according to her, within the bosom of a loving family that lacked only in material things. Being the oldest in the family, she worked in the field alongside her dad and various uncles and cousins from an early age. Her greatest love was horses and she rode every time she had the opportunity. She attended a small one room county school and graduated eighth grade from Olive Grade School, which was located one mile west and half mile north of the farm. She only had three teachers for the eight years. She spent most of her grade school years the only person in her class. She said that she read every book in their meager library several times. She was terrified when she started high school that everyone would think she was dumb and send her back to the country.
Carroll graduated from Udall Rural High School on May 22, 1958. She was an aggressive basketball player and a good student that also liked to have a good time. She liked school and retained good friends from those days throughout her lifetime. One of the highlights of her life after retirement was the weekly “coffee” with her Udall friends.
Carroll married Eldon Lynk Barner of Belle Plaine, on June 9, 1958, in the Methodist Church in Udall. To this union, two sons were born. Stephen Lynk on September 4, 1959 (born on his Grandpa Frank’s 45th birthday) and Mark LeRoy on January 20, 1962. They made their home in the Belle Plaine area until they divorced in 1974.
Carroll went to work in April of 1960 in Wichita for the state civil service. After a year there, she began work at the ASCS office in Wellington and remained there until 1965. She entered the workforce for Beech Aircraft in Wichita on May 2, 1966, as a clerk in the Customer Support area. She received various promotions and added responsibility over the years. She entered management in 1976 and she retired as a Director on May 30, 2008. Her work was always an important part of who she was. She made the statement that her work had given her wonderful opportunities for advancement and travel and great friendships. One of her deepest and longest friendships began in 1976 when Cindy Jaerger Wickham came to work in Warranty. Even after Cindy moved to New York and later Florida, they stayed in touch and talked regularly and saw each other when and where they could.
Carroll married Raymond Eugene Shivers on November 26, 1975, in Montgomery, Alabama, with her sister Kathy standing up with her. Ray had three boys and three girls from a previous marriage and one granddaughter at the time of this marriage. Amy, the granddaughter, always told everyone that the reason they married was so Carroll could be Amy’s grandma. All of the rest of the grands, greats, and great-greats were born after Carroll and Ray were married. She always said that it was her kids, his kids, and they both claimed ALL the grands, great, and great-greats. Her family and extended family were the most important part of her life. She enjoyed having all of them together for Christmas meals and for Easter and any other time they were able to be there. She loved to gather six grands for a week every summer for several years for Vacation Bible School at Grandview Church. They spent the days playing and the evening enjoying VBS. Ray tried to stay hid during those wild weeks but secretly enjoyed it also. The six that participated were Zach, Axel, Tulsa, Caleb, Raven, and Jade.
Carroll and Ray resided on their farm near Winfield from November 1977. Carroll was an active member of Grandview United Methodist Church. She took her faith seriously and studied and worked on being a better Christian. She was thankful that she had been raised in the church and knew that even though she was imperfect and had broken about half of the Ten Commandments (her count), that she was a child of God and was forgiven. She took her vows of membership in the United Methodist Church seriously and supported it as best she was able. Carroll served in various capacities within this church. She served on the Building Committee for the church that was built in 1991. She held many offices and helped out when needed but avoided the kitchen and the craft room as she knew that her gifts were not there. She stayed in touch with many of the former pastors and counted them as her friends when they were no longer her Pastor.
Carroll loved to spend time with her family, was a voracious reader, and she enjoyed living in the country. She loved sports and loved it even more if one of her kids, grands, or great grands was playing. She went to as many games as she could and followed others on TV or live streaming. She loved basketball, particularly KU. Carroll loved life, loved to laugh and to spend time with those she loved. She did not suffer fools gladly, and you always knew where she stood on an issue as she wasn’t shy about sharing her thoughts and beliefs. She was kind but not a pushover. She didn’t judge others, but had a hard time with people that didn’t share her work ethic. You could be pretty much a screw up in what you did but if you got up and went to work every day, she could handle that. She was a glass “almost full” kind of person and didn’t like to be around negative people. She always said that “you find what you look for” - if you look for happy, you will find that, but if you look for things that go wrong, that is all you will see. Choose Happy!! She saw God in nature and loved His beautiful handiwork in so many places.
Her husband Ray preceded her in death in 2015. Her son Steve Barner, and her parents, Frank and Bernice Walker, and her brother Cliff Walker, also preceded her in death.
She is survived by her daughter-in-law LaDonna Barner of Eufaula, OK; her son Mark Barner and wife, Tami of Bixby, OK; her stepsons, Mike Shivers of Belle Plaine; Mitch Shivers and wife, Rene of Strong City; Mark Shives and wife, Becke of Belle Plaine; stepdaughters, Marlene Salsman of Winfield; Melissa Shivers of Newkirk, OK; Mae Smith and husband, Bill of Eastborough; sister Kathy Barner of Tampa, FL; and her many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Grandview United Methodist Church under the direction of Miles Funeral Service. A reception will follow at the church. Carroll’s ashes will be buried in the Udall Cemetery beside her husband of almost 40 years.
A memorial has been established in Carroll’s name for Grandview United Methodist Church. Contributions may be made through the funeral home.
