Carl Wayne Ervin was born on January 3, 1958, in Seattle, WA to the union of Charles W. and Christene R. Ervin. He was the youngest of six children.

Carl attended Mount Zion Baptist Church with his parents and siblings. He accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior at the age of nine and was baptized by Rev. Dr. Samuel B. McKinney. When he was six years old, his father erected a basketball hoop in their spacious backyard. Carl displayed an affinity and talent for this sport. He and his friends spent hours upon hours shooting baskets and perfecting their game. Carl started directing the action on the court and soon had neighborhood boys clustered around selecting teams. Nothing made his parents happier than looking out of their bay windows and seeing a yard full of kids playing together. Carl went to Stevens Elementary and Meany Jr. High. He began playing organized basketball at the Rotary Boys and Girls Club. When he was 13, he received a scholarship sponsored by Lenny Wilkens to attend the Bob Houbart sports camp. The newspaper article and accompanying picture showing him shaking hands with the Sonic Player/coach is proudly displayed in one of his many photo albums. When the family moved to Beacon Hill, Carl enrolled in Asa Mercer Jr. High and his knowledge of the fundamentals of basketball flourished under the expert tutelage of Coach Frank Ahern. While at Cleveland High School, that foundation was cemented under the guidance of Coach Fred Harrison. Carl was a two-time 1st Team All-Metro and All-State performer who led the Eagles to back-to-back State titles in 1975 and 1976. Ervin, the Eagles captain, held assist records for one game (16) and tournament (35) while directing his team to a 50-1 record over two seasons. His perfectly arched 18′ jumpshot, with only seven seconds remaining in the game, won the State Championship in 1976. Carl’s jersey, along with teammates James Woods and Jawaan Oldham, was retired during the “Celebrating Champions and Legends” ceremony held in January of this year. The Eagles were declared “The Team of the Century.” Recruited nationally, Carl chose to attend Seattle University where he became a four-year starter and the school’s all-time single season (179) and career (534) assist leader in the Division I era. As a senior captain, Carl led the Chieftains in 3 categories: scoring (505/18.7), assists (135/5.5) and free throws (87/100). Ervin scored 1,304 points during his career. Blessed with exceptional court vision, unique timing and commanding ball handling skills, Carl is one of the best ever to have played at Seattle University where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies. He was inducted into the SU Athletic Hall of Fame in May of 2009. A 7th round draft pick of the Seattle Sonics, Ervin spent two seasons in the CBA in Alberta, Canada, and continued playing locally in Pro-Am leagues for a number of years. He came back to Seattle U and coached under Al Hairston for ten years. Carl continued to stay involved with basketball on all levels, coaching youth basketball at the Rotary and Vista Boys and Girls Clubs. He organized, directed and coached pro summer league camps for Doug Christie, Nate McMillan and Jamal Crawford. Last year, he helped to organize Mount Zion’s 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament for the Ministry of Christian Education’s Department of Recreation and Athletics. He was a member of O’Dea High School’s “Dream Coach” team; they finished in third place at the State Tournament this year. He was employed by Costco, Alpac Corporation, Pepsi-Cola, Winco and the SU Athletic Department. Being recognized as Employee of the Month was common for Carl. At Pepsi-Cola he was also named Employee of the Year and served as the company representative for United Way. Most recently, he worked for the City of Seattle Department of Transportation. Carl was a meticulous dresser with a phenomenal sense of style and design. He knew fashion and paid close attention to detail. The first and only time he played golf was for the Ed O’Brien Golf Tournament. His team not only won 1st place, but he also received the “Best Dressed Golfer Award” Carl enjoyed hosting celebrations and cooking “soul food feasts” for his family and friends. He had many specialties that included salmon fettuccini, catfish and bar-b-que. He often cooked the favorites of his nieces and nephews such as donuts, pancakes and, of course, his often craved after milkshakes with the secret ingredient he never revealed. He chaired the 2010 Ervin Family Reunion held in Seattle and planned the meals. A month before major surgery, he entertained over 80 of his closest friends for his annual March Madness Bash. Did we mention how much Carl loved basketball whether playing, coaching, watching games or reading articles about his favorite sport? He was a verbal encyclopedia for high school, college and professional basketball players and their teams; a statistician of extraordinary accuracy. The joy and light of his life, however, was his beautiful daughter, Karlee Christine, who turned eleven on June 23rd. He beamed at the mention of her name and kept everyone informed about each of her many accomplishments. She even knew how to ride a unicycle! Karlee, a gifted student in the Spectrum Program, was selected to speak at John Muir’s 5th grade graduation. Although her dad could not be there, he watched the video with great pride and relished every photo taken of her. He marveled in admiration of her intellectual acumen and poise. His wife Penny was his best friend and closest confidante. Mutual respect and open communication were the foundation of their relationship. She was by his side every step of the way. The love they shared was magical and evident to all who saw them together. They packed a lifetime of memories into their “five-years-going-on-fifty” marriage. They honeymooned in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands and celebrated anniversaries on cruises and trips abroad. A special anniversary was spent in Scottsdale, AZ with Keith Harrell and family vacations included trips to Ocean Shores, Sea World, Disneyland and Hawaii. At the time of his passing, plans were underway for Carl to be honored by the Lenny Wilkens Foundation. With dignity and remarkable grace, “The Captain” fulfilled his mission. He achieved what God had asked of him and found perfect peace on June 25, 2011, surrounded by his family and friends. Carl Wayne was preceded in death by his father, Deacon Charles W. Ervin, Sr.; his mother, Christene R. Ervin; and sister Charlene V. Franklin. He is survived by his beloved wife, Penny Marsha Ervin; cherished daughter, Karlee Christene Ervin; adoring sisters, Etta B. Walters, C. Yvonne Ervin Carr, Sarah J.E. Dean; caring brother, Charles W. (Beverly) Ervin, Jr.; steadfast uncle, John H. (Malinda) Ervin; aunts, Naomi Waddleton, Clinton, MD and Doll McGee, Dallas, TX; a host of nieces, nephews and cousins; brother-in-law, Pierre (Alene) Brown; sisters-in-law, Pam Watley and Paula Woods; other relatives; and a multitude of dear friends. His legacy of love for his family will continue.