Charles R. Carter

On Thursday, September 17, 2020, Charles “Charlie” Carter, loving husband and father of four children, passed away at the age of 77.
Charlie was born on December 5, 1942 in Gloucester, MA to Raymond “Pete” and Elizabeth “Betty” (Evans) Carter. He graduated from Essex Agricultural High School in 1960. On December 20, 1964, he married Marilyn Carol (Thompson) Carter; they would have four children: Sharon, Peter, Deborah, and John.
He was proud of his two years of active duty service in the Navy as well as his six years in the Naval Reserves; he shared many stories of his time in the navy so often that his children could recite those stories for him. He worked for nineteen years at Hardy’s Poultry Farm in Essex, MA and for twenty-one years for the Town of Rowley, MA Highway Department until his retirement in 2008. Even in retirement, Charlie continued to work his market garden and make his weekly egg deliveries to his loyal customers.
Charlie joined West Gloucester Grange in October 1957 and later joined Laurel Grange of West Newbury, where he held many offices, including Master at the time of his death. In addition, Charlie served on many committees, including the Agricultural Committee, and served the Massachusetts State Grange as Deputy State Master, a position both of his sons would later hold. It was through the Grange and the many Grange dances that he met his wife Carol of nearly 56 years, whom he loved dearly. At one time, he was part of three generations of Grange Masters all serving at once, with his son Peter as Master of Rowley Jr. Grange, his father Pete as Master of Chebacco Pomona Grange, and Charlie as Master of Laurel Grange.
Charlie’s passion was all things farming. He could grow a garden from of a bucket of rocks as long as he had enough cow manure. Aside from his family, he loved nothing more than spending hours in his garden in his trademark blue Dickies shirt and pants and his insulated vest, which he wore even on the hottest days. He also raised a variety of livestock, including cattle, pigs, and chickens; he would have raised more, but his wife said no. When Charlie wasn’t weeding the garden or tending the animals, you might find him cutting and splitting wood, that is, if he wasn’t smoking a cigar or drinking a cup of coffee. He loved sharing his knowledge of agriculture with anyone who would listen and was proud to have taught his children how to put food on their table and keep themselves warm in the winter without relying on the grocery store or oil man.
Charlie was preceded in death by his father Pete, his mother Betty, his daughter Sharon, and his grandson George. He is survived by his wife Carol; son Peter, wife Jackie, and their daughter Bellah, of Georgetown, MA; his daughter Debbie Paquette and fiancé Jonathan Elliott of Haverhill, MA and her children, William, Elizabeth, and Krystyna, of East Wakefield, NH; and his son John, wife April, and their daughter Hazel, of Barre, MA. In addition, he leaves behind his brother Frank Carter, his sister Nancy Rollins and her husband Richard, all of Gloucester, MA, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Family and friends are invited to his visitation on Wednesday, September 23 rd from 4 to 8pm in the Conte – Giamberardino Funeral Home, 14 Pleasant Street, Georgetown. His Graveside Service with Military Honors will be held on Saturday, September 26 th at 11AM in the Greenwood Cemetery, East Broadway, Haverhill. For those who wish, In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to either Laurel Grange, Carol Carter, Secretary, 58R Jewett St., Georgetown, MA 01833-1210 or the George Carter Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Heritage Pomona Grange, Lisa Johnson, Secretary, 22 Jordan St., Haverhill, MA 01830-6520.  For funeral home directions, florists or to share a memory of Charles with his family, please visit www.cgfuneralhomegeorgetown.com
 

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