SHS 1958 Graduate Carson Summerville

2021

Carson Cameron Summerville Jr. passed away peacefully on Saturday, the 5th of March 2022, in Houston, Texas at the age of 81
Carson was born on the 8th of January 1941, to Carson Sr. and Nancy Summerville in Russellville, Kentucky and was raised in Louisville, Kentucky with his brother Harry Milton and sister Nancy Lou. Carson was an avid athlete as a child excelling in football and basketball among other sports.
After high school, Carson was offered scholarships to some small universities to play football, but he ultimately went to college at Georgia Tech University in Atlanta, Georgia, majoring in Industrial Engineering. In Atlanta, Carson lived with his Uncle Milton “Mutt” and Aunt Jackie who took good care of him and taught him to enjoy some of the finer things in life. In college Carson was a member of the ROTC and the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.
Upon graduating college Carson went to officer candidate training and into the United States Air Force serving primarily as a research analyst during the Vietnam War. Carson was stationed in many places including Germany, Alabama, Arizona and New Mexico however, Colorado was his favorite spot – that’s where he met the love of his life, Harriet. They were married in Colorado and Harriet joined Carson as they left for other postings. While in the Air Force Carson continued his education at Arizona State University in Tempe where he earned a master’s degree in operations research. Carson and Harriet’s final post was at Holleman Air Force Base in Alamogordo, New Mexico where their first son, Scott was born in 1969.
After reaching the rank of captain, Carson left the Air Force to join the private sector at Frontier Airlines in Denver, Colorado. Two years later the young family relocated to the Houston, Texas area (Spring) for an opportunity to work at Texas International Airlines which became Continental Airlines in the 1980’s and now United Airlines.
In 1973 their second son, Brent was born. The family established roots in Spring living in the same house for over 46 years. While Carson was dedicated to his airline career, he also enjoyed vacations with his family (Hawaii was his favorite) as well as numerous friends made over the years of living in Cypresswood. Carson continued to enjoy participating in sports such as golf and tennis and loved to attend college football games along with his annual guy’s trips to the NCAA basketball tournaments. Carson loved interacting with people at social gatherings and Christmas was his favorite holiday – he would leave all his gifts under the tree until after the new year (that was a tradition that Scott and Brent never could understand)

After leaving Continental in 1994, Carson commuted to Miami, Florida to work at Norwegian Cruise Lines and then in 1996 began a successful airline consulting career. His favorite engagement was with Hawaiian Air where he regularly visited the Aloha State (his favorite place on earth). Carson was very analytical and really enjoyed solving complex industrial problems; he really loved to sink his teeth into a difficult project. In retirement, Carson and Harriet continued to live in Spring and enjoy their friendships as well as their son’s and son’s wives, Lauren and Mary Lou. Brent and Mary Lou’s son Luke was their first grandchild followed by Scott and Lauren’s son Andrew. They loved spending time with their grand children and Carson took the entire gang to Hawaii one last time in 2013.
Carson was preceded in death by his parents, Carson ∧ Nancy and wife, Harriet. He is survived by his son’s and their wives – Scott & Lauren and Brent ∧ Mary Lou; his grandsons, Luke Summerville and Andrew Summerville; his brother Harry Summerville and his wife Sylvia “Terry”; sister Nancy Lou Harrison and her husband Tom; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews along with many friends made throughout his life. The family is grateful for his caregivers who provided loving care over the last couple of years.
Carson was interred at the Houston National Cemetery on the 25th of March 2022, receiving a military salute and is laid to rest next to Harriet. There was a celebration of life on the 19th of April 2022, at Lakeside Country Club, 100 Wilcrest Drive, Houston, TX 77042.
n lieu of customary remembrances please make a donation to the Wounded Warrior Project