Gearld Carter, Sr.

Gearld Lovera Carter, Sr., 89, of Panhandle, Texas, entered eternal life on December 30, 2010. Celebration of life services will be at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, in the First Baptist Church, Panhandle, with Rev. Joe Zimmerman officiating. Graveside services will follow in Memory Gardens in Pampa under the direction of MintonChatwell Funeral Directors of Panhandle.

Mr. Carter was born on June 20, 1921, in Big Heart Barnsdall, Oklahoma, to Eva Jane Brown Carter and Walter Edward Carter. He married Gertrude Lorene Hall on October 4, 1943, in Phillips, Texas. Mr. Carter graduated from Borger High School in 1940 and was editor of the Bulldog Growl.

Gearld joined the United States Army Air Force on June 30, 1942. He was attached to the 8th Army3rd Division, 4th Wing, 447th Group, 708th H Squadron as a B17 bomber pilot. Gearld fought in battles and campaigns in Air Offensive EuropeNormandy and flew two missions on DDay. He completed 12 missions and was shot down over Berlin June 21, 1944. He was a Prisoner of War for 321 days until he was liberated by General Patton. He was awarded the Air Medal, EAME Theater Ribbon, with two Bronze Service Stars for DDay, Good Conduct Medal, and Ex POW medal. In 1998, he was inducted into the Pampa Freedom Museum Hall of Fame.

Gearld was a building contractor and constructed homes in Pampa, Borger, and Amarillo. As owner of Carter Enterprises, he remodeled and repaired many homes in the Panhandle area. Mr. Carter also worked in several meat markets, and was employed by the Post Office in Pampa and Amarillo. He retired from the Amarillo Helium Plant. Gearld was a very active member of the First Baptist Church in Borger, Phillips, Pampa, and Amarillo he also served as deacon in Avondale Baptist and Paramount Baptist Church, Amarillo. He was a Sunday School teacher and Training Union leader. He was an active participant in revivals and mission trips until prevented by failing health. Mr. Carter also served as a Boy Scout troop leader. His family remembers him as a faithful husband of 65 years and a devoted, loving, supportive father, grandfather, and greatgrandfather.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Walter Edward Carter, Jr., and Franklyn Delano Carter his sisters, Sterline Joyner, and Emily Turner his beloved son and friend, Gearld Lovera Carter, Jr. in 1999, and his wife and sweetheart, Gertrude Lorene Hall Carter in 2008.

Survivors include his daughter, Jerilyn Carter Laramore and husband Gary B. Laramore, Sr. of Panhandle daughterinlaw, Rene Baker Carter Brown and her husband Davis of Adrian one grandson, Gary B. Laramore, Jr. and wife Stacie of Texline two granddaughters, Jessica Rene Carter Cowan and husband Christopher of Coppell, and Bethany DAnn Carter Fields and husband Russell of Amarillo eight greatgrandchildren, Carter Blake Laramore, Makenzie Reagan Laramore, and Andrew Mason Laramore of Texline, Lucy Helena Cowan and William Nathaniel Cowan of Coppell, and Colin Alexander Fields, Benjamin Cyrus Fields and Gillian Rene Fields of Amarillo. He is also survived by his four sisters, Margie Norman and husband Harold of McKinney, Precious Snyder and husband Ray of Alamosa, CO, Fabrice Cribbs and husband Roy of Mustang, OK, and Marylyn Anderson of Shawnee, OK one sisterinlaw, Ann Carter of Victoria many other beloved family members and extended family and a host of dear friends and caregivers who loved him for his sweet nature and witty sense of humor.

The family will receive friends on Monday, January 3, from 5:00 7:00 P.M. at the funeral home in Panhandle. The family suggests memorials be to Panhandle First Baptist Church, PO Box 189, Panhandle, TX 79068, UssaryRoan Texas State Veterans Home, 1020 Tascosa Road, Amarillo, TX 79124, St. Anns Nursing Home, 125 St. Anns, Panhandle, TX 79068, or Palo Duro Nursing Home, 405 Collins St., Claude, TX 79019.

Visitation

Minton Chatwell Funeral Directors
510 N. Main St.
Panhandle, TX  79068
Monday, January 3, 2011
5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Service

Funeral Service

First Baptist Church of Panhandle
701 Main St.
Panhandle, TX  79068
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
11:00 a.m.

Cemetery

Memory Gardens Cemetery
2215 N. Price Rd.
Pampa, TX  79065

Memorial Contributions

Box 189
Panhandle, TX  79068


1020 Tascosa Rd
Amarillo, TX  79124


P. O. Box 1179
Panhandle, TX  79068