Dr. Ronald Bevill McCarver, age 66, of Tuscaloosa, died Tuesday, October 22, after a brief battle with cancer. A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on today, October 27, 2013, at Tuscaloosa Memorial Chapel with Dan Kilgore officiating.
He was preceded in death by his father, Clay Hunter McCarver.
Survivors include his wife, Dawn Reynolds McCarver; his children, Russell Byron McCarver (Diana) of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Andrea Laura McCarver of New Orleans, Louisiana, and Daniel Hunter McCarver of Tuscaloosa; his brothers, Robert Hunter McCarver (Charlotte) of Texarkana, Arkansas, and Russell Todd McCarver (James Grimes) of Memphis, Tennessee; his mother, Margie “Sue” McCarver; granddaughters Victoria Fallon McCarver and Morgan Ashley McCarver; and mothers of his children, Sandy Yaeger(Russell) and Jane Kristin McCarver (Andrea and Daniel).
Ron was born in Pontotoc, Mississippi, grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, and received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Southwestern at Memphis (Rhodes College) in 1969. He received his Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology from The University of Alabama in 1971, completing his doctoral program in record time, an achievement that has not been matched to this day. He worked at Partlow Developmental Center in Tuscaloosa as Program Director, and then served in many capacities at Bryce Hospital, including Assistant Clinical Director, Director of Psychology, and Assistant Hospital Director. Ron had more than 35 years of experience teaching at the college and graduate school level at The University of Alabama School of Psychology, teaching various courses including History and Systems of Psychology, for which he wrote his own textbook.
Since retirement from Bryce Hospital, Ron was a consultant for Indian Rivers and Taylor Hardin Secure Mental Health Facilities – he had a private practice in psychological consultation and assessment of individuals with serious mental illness and those with intellectual and physical disabilities. Most recently, Ron served as a forensic expert witness for capital trials all over the state of Alabama, an endeavor he felt was his true vocation.
Ron enjoyed athletics, playing basketball, football, baseball, and running track in high school, achieving All Memphis football recognition. He went on to play football on a Leadership Scholarship at Southwestern at Memphis. In his adult years Ron enjoyed tennis and golf. Much to his family members’ chagrin, Ron would win every friendly competition at family gatherings, whether they were playing tennis, Monopoly, darts, chess, or cards. Ron enjoyed cooking, reading, traveling with family and friends, and spending quiet reflection time on the porch at sundown. He had a brilliant mind, a generous heart, and a creative, sharp wit. Ron was always known for his unyielding support for his family, friends, colleagues, and students.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society , P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123 (www.cancer.org). For more information, visit the Legacy website.