Helen Louise Carter

© Tahlequah Daily Press May 02, 2011

Submitted by: Jo Aguirre

TAHLEQUAH — Helen Louise Carter, of Tahlequah, passed from this life on April 27, 2011. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, friend, teacher, and most of all, faithful Christian.

Helen was most proud of her family, and was happiest when everyone was home together. She was an accomplished cook, seamstress, water skier and gardener. Her gift of teaching enabled her to share her many talents with numerous family, friends and students. Through the years, she faced many difficult situations with the health of close family members and her own declining health. Helen dealt with each situation with abiding faith, a never-ceasing hope and a profound sense of dignity.

Helen Louise Capps Carter was born on Sept. 1, 1929, in rural Cherokee County, to Edward and Nora Capps. She attended school at Crittenden and Grand View, and graduated in 1946 from Bagley High School, in Tahlequah, where she was football queen her senior year. After high school, she attended Northeastern State University and graduated with her degree in education.

On Oct. 31, 1947, she married Virgil Lee Carter, and to this home two sons were born, Ronald Ray in 1948, and Richard Lee in 1949.

In the 1950s and '60s, the Carters moved to several different locations to teach school. Some of these included Burbank and Moline, and Towanda and Augusta, Kan. In 1968, the Carters returned home to Cherokee County and began teaching in Muskogee and Salina. Then, in 1975, Helen chose to retire from her teaching career of over 20 years. After her retirement from teaching, she owned and operated Carter Tax Service. When she retired the second time, she retired to enjoy the grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Virgil and Helen enjoyed traveling and took many memorable family vacations. As the grandchildren started arriving, family vacations to Disney World, Branson, Mo., and many weekends on the lake have provided wonderful memories for the whole family. Helen taught all the grandchildren how to water ski, and almost every summer weekend was spent at Cherokee Landing. Her children and grandchildren cherish these memories of their mother and grandmother and will forever carry them in their hearts.

Helen leaves behind her loving husband of 64 years, Dr. Virgil Carter, of the home in Tahlequah; one son, Rick Carter, and his, wife, Sandy, of Tahlequah; daughter-in-law Kathy Carter, of Little Rock, Ark.; six grandchildren, Todd Carter and his wife, Kari Anne, of Broken Arrow, Michael Carter of Stroud, Eric Carter of Raleigh, N.C., Brent Carter and his wife, Dacia, of Edmond, Kelly Carter Bittle and her husband, Joshua, of Little Rock, Ark., and Blayne Carter and his wife, Sarah, of Urbandale, Iowa; eight great-grandchildren, Anna Ruth and Gracie Helen Carter of Broken Arrow, Haleigh Brooke and Rylan Murray Carter of Edmond, Carter Joshua and Allee Marie Bittle of Little Rock, Ark., and Paige Elaine and Landon Wesley Carter of Urbandale, Iowa; one sister, Betty Draper, of Tahlequah; one brother, Leroy Capps and his wife, Mary Lou, of Tahlequah; one brother-in-law, Gene Carter, of Tahlequah; and a host of nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.

Those welcoming Helen to eternal glory are her parents; her beloved son, Dr. Ronald Ray Carter; a granddaughter, Donna Hope Trawick Carter; a sister, Lavada Sue Spears; brother-in-law, Bill Draper; and sister-in-law, Bertie Carter.

As our Carter family here on Earth bids our loved one goodbye, we are so grateful to God for blessing us with Helen. We are comforted by the Holy Spirit and stand firm in the knowledge that this is only a temporary separation and that before long we will all be reunited in heaven to glorify God forever and ever.

Memorials may be made to the Burnt Cabin Christian Camp or to the Northeastern State University Scholarship Fund.

Service will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, May 2, 2011, at the College Avenue Church of Christ in Tahlequah, with Mr. Ed Lobaugh officiating. Interment will follow in the Tahlequah City Cemetery under the direction of Hart Funeral Home. Visitation will be held from 3-5 p.m., Sunday, May 1, at Hart Funeral Home.

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