March 23, 1939 – February 18, 2025
Earl Doyle Nave, 85, passed away peacefully on Tuesday at Huntsville Hospital’s Hospice Family Care Redstone Village after a brief illness.
For the past 50 years, he regarded Huntsville as home, having served as an Engineer with the Tennessee Valley Authority the majority of his professional career.
His later consulting success placed him in nuclear power facilities across the United States.
Born in Van Nuys, California, he moved as a youth to the picturesque Sierra Mountains, where he enjoyed exploring Yosemite National Park. Following a family tradition of military service, he was selected to attend the Naval Academy, later electing to enlist in the Army.
While first stationed in Huntsville, Mr. Nave was introduced to the love of his life, Mary Lou. After a brief romantic courtship they were married, and soon relocated to Germany on military assignment.
Upon his honorable discharge, the couple returned to California, where Mr. Nave earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Engineering from San Jose State University.
Throughout his adventurous life, he loved to take road trips, first experiencing the countryside and cities of Europe while stationed overseas and later touring America’s National Parks with extended family and friends.
As a trained engineer, his applied handyman skills served him well, fixing projects around his house and happily those of neighbors.
He rarely met a stranger and liked to visit with everyone. Mr. Nave adored all his family pets, especially their most recently adopted cat, Sean.
Mr. Nave was a longtime member of Oak Bowery United Methodist Church and in recent years Valley United Methodist Church.
He was preceded in death by his father, Earl Monroe Nave; mother, Margaret Nave; brother, Charles Nave and daughter-in-law, Yvonne Winkler von Mohrenfels.
Surviving are his adoring wife of 64 years, Mary Lou Grooms; son, David Earl Nave; daughter, Joan Kennedy (Paul); niece, Lee Nave; and nephew, Thomas Nave (Kathi).
In Mr. Nave’s final days, cousins Mike and Nancy Walters offered extraordinary advocacy, wisdom, and care on his behalf. Generosity the Nave family will treasure forever.
Visitation will take place on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at New Hope Funeral Home. Services will follow in the Chapel, Sunday at 2 p.m. with Reverend Wren Clanton officiating.
Interment will be in Hayden Cemetery.
