Kermit James McCarver

Kermit James McCarver, age 92 of Sugar Land, Texas, passed away on Sunday, July 26, 2026.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 1, 2026 at Restland Cemetery in Gatesville. The family will receive visitors from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friday evening at Scott’s Funeral Home.

Kermit was born on April 23, 1934, in Gatesville, Texas, to Otha James and Ruby Opal McCarver. He graduated from Gatesville High School in 1952, where his classmates voted him "Most Popular”. Kermit had a quiet way of making people feel welcome, and he never met a stranger for long.

As a young man, he worked at Gatesville Drug while attending high school. After graduation, he began what would become a successful career in visual merchandising with Sears in Waco, Texas. His work took him and his growing family to Harlingen, Wichita Falls, El Paso, and eventually Houston, where he served as Display and Advertising Manager. Kermit possessed the unique ability to envision a completed display before he ever began. His creativity, attention to detail, and dedication earned him company recognition, including unforgettable trips to the Super Bowl in Los Angeles and the Pro Bowl in Hawaii.

On June 2, 1956, Kermit married the love of his life, Marva Jean McCutchen. For 70 years they built a life centered on faith, family, and unconditional love. Together they raised two children, Debbie and Mark, and later found immeasurable joy in watching their family grow to include grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

After taking early retirement from Sears, Kermit wasn't ready to slow down. He continued working for Fort Bend ISD for several years before finally retiring.

If you knew Kermit, you probably knew how much he loved being outside. Whether he was working in the yard, tending the garden, or mowing the pastures on the family farm, he was happiest with a project to do. It wasn't unusual for him to still be on the tractor after dark, mowing by the glow of the headlights because it was peaceful.

In 2016, Kermit lost the ability to walk, but he never lost his determination. He found ways to keep doing the things he loved and refused to let physical limitations define him. His perseverance was one of his greatest strengths and one of the many lessons he quietly taught those around him.

Faith guided every part of Kermit's life. As a child, he attended Live Oak Baptist Church and was baptized in Pecan Grove Creek. He was later ordained as a deacon at Immanuel Baptist Church in El Paso and faithfully served as a deacon at First Baptist Church of Missouri City and First Baptist Church of Sugar Land. He didn't simply attend church, he lived his faith every day through his kindness, integrity, humility, and willingness to serve others.

To his family, Kermit was much more than a husband, dad, or grandfather. He was the steady hand, the dependable helper, the one who could fix almost anything, and the quiet encourager who was always there when he was needed. He led not with words but by example. His children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren knew they were deeply loved, and nothing made him prouder than watching them grow.

Those who knew Kermit will remember his gentle smile, his calm spirit, and his wonderful sense of humor. He had a way of making ordinary moments special and reminding everyone around him that the simplest things—a day's work, time with family, or a beautiful sunset over the pasture—were often life's greatest blessings.

Kermit was preceded in death by his parents, Otha James and Ruby Opal McCarver, and his brother-in-law, Fred Blanchard.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Jean McCarver; his daughter, Debbie (Barry) Hodges; and his son, Mark (Diana) McCarver. He also leaves behind his beloved grandchildren, Nate (Ryan) Hodges, Tiffany (Bruce) Lewis, Eric (Amanda) McCarver, and Hollie McCarver; and his treasured great-grandchildren, Jacob Hodges, Zachary Hodges, Kyleigh Hodges, Arianna McCarver, Dylan McFadden, Charlotte McFadden, Ashley Lewis, and Christopher Lewis. He is also survived by his sister, Joy Blanchard; his brother, Bruce (Jean) McCarver; and many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends.

Kermit's greatest legacy is not found in the awards he earned or the jobs he held, but in the life he lived. He showed his family what faithfulness looks like, what hard work accomplishes, and how to love without reservation. His example will continue to inspire those who knew him, and his memory will be treasured forever.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Kermit’s memory to the ARC of Fort Bend County, 123 Brooks Street, Sugar Land, Texas 77478, or to Live Oak Baptist Church, 113 FM 107, Gatesville, Texas 76528.