Ray Harris Carter, 88, of Brentwood, California, passed away peacefully on Friday morning, March 10th.
Ray was born on February 7, 1935 in Carthage, Missouri to Homer Harris Carter and Cecile Mae (Dendinger) Carter.
Ray graduated from Carthage High School in 1953 where he was Senior Class President and played on the varsity basketball team. He was very involved during his time at Carthage High School participating in Student Council and various clubs such as the Key Club and Radio Club. He was also a member of the ROTC program. After graduation, he held the rank of Sergeant First Class in the Headquarters Company 2nd Medium Tank Battalion 203rd Armor, Missouri National Guard and competed on the rifle team.
He married Bettie Christine James and worked in sales with the Big Smith clothing company. Later he was a dispatcher with the Campbell 66 trucking company. After divorce, he spent his career as a management consultant, where he traveled extensively. He consulted on projects in 24 states and 4 Canadian provinces.
Nearing retirement, Ray settled in the East Bay area of California where he was a reporter and columnist for the Brentwood Press.
While in Brentwood, he met his loving wife, Karen (Lawrence) Carter. They married in October 2004. Ray was extremely active in his community. He was a member of the local Lions Club for several years. He inherited his mother’s gift of singing, and was active in the local karaoke scene, as well as a member of the Summerset Singers choral group. Ray also became an ordained minister and performed several civil weddings.
Ray’s interests included writing, crossword puzzles, photography, astronomy and computers.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter, Margaret Ann Carter.
Survivors include his wife, Karen (Lawrence) Carter of Brentwood, California; adult children, David Harris Carter (Jennifer Carter) of Powder Springs, Georgia, Diana Rae (Carter) Miller (Todd Miller) of Douglasville, Georgia; grandchildren, Cole Miller, Sarah Miller, Jada Carter; ex-wife: Bettie Christine (James) Carter, and Karen’s children; Stacy Mack, Becky Estenson (Jim), and Amy Dal Bon (Brad), and their families.
A Celebration of Life service will be held in Brentwood, California on Sunday, April 23, 2023.
