Millard “Jeff” Ray Shivers
Millard “Jeff” Ray Shivers was born on Oct. 28, 1944, in Marlin to Ansel Ross and Ruby Ilene Hillyard Shivers. He passed away Sept. 27, 2020, in Fort Worth.
Jeff graduated from Marlin High School in 1963 and went to McMurry State on a basketball scholarship where he lettered all four years and graduated in 1967. He worked at Vought Aircraft for 32 ½ years retiring at the age of 55.
In July 1982, Jeff married Lynn Royston and lived in Arlington until 2010 when they moved to Joshua.
Jeff was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Gary Shivers; and sister, Glenda Heiber.
He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Lynn Shivers; sister, Carol Moore of Mexia; brothers, Ross and Laura Shivers of Palestine, and Edward and Lana Shivers of Waxahachie; daughter, Laura and Terry Blount of Midlothian; bonus family members, Mary and Antone Cepak of Granbury, and Bobby Lowe of Granbury; grandsons, Aaron Rose of Los Angeles, Calif., Patrick and Diana Blount of North Richland Hills, Travis and Kristin Blount of Midlothian, Shane Cole of Granbury, Nathan and Tara Cole of Tampa, Fla., and BJ and Holly Lowe of Springtown; great-grandchildren, Brennan Blount of North Richland Hills, Brody and Parker Cole of Tampa, Fla., Jaxson and Harper Lowe of Springtown; and a host of nieces and nephews and a large extended family.
Jeff was a founding father of International BBQ Cookers Association, which was founded 30 years ago. He competed for 35 years. He won many awards and competed in 11 different states. He was very well known throughout the BBQ circuit and loved by so many. He was inducted into the first group of the IBCA Hall of Fame in 2017 for all his accomplishments throughout the sport. It has been said that he never walked away without making a new friend or helping out a competitor at each competition. In his earlier days of competing, he was known as “Mr. Friendly.” He will be missed by his extended BBQ family.
In 2017 he retired from competition BBQ but never walked away from the sport. In turn he focused on another one of his hobbies: his 1932 Ford Roadster, attending car shows.
Jeff may have slowed down due to Rheumatiod Arthritis over the past few years, but it did not stop his sense of humor, spirit or his wit. In his honor in lieu of flowers the family would like his name remembered by starting a Jeff Shivers Memorial fund to continue giving back to the BBQ Community that he cherished so much or by making a donation to a charity of your choice.
A Memorial Service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, 2020, at Keller United Methodist Church. A Celebration of Jeff’s Life will follow from 2:30-5 p.m. at the Keller Lions Club