Obituary of Elizabeth-E. Carter

Elizabeth E. Carter, or "Meme", as her four grandchildren affectionately called her, led a long and fulfilling life. She was born July 27, 1921, in Hartville, Mo., to Winnie and Tonie Thomas. The middle of three sisters, Elizabeth was baptized in Little Creek in November of 1934. She passed away Monday, May 28, 2007, in Cox Medical Center South, Springfield, at the age of 85 years, 10 months and one day. She was the salutatorian of her Hartville high school class before attending college. She and her sister, Kathryn, were at Southwest Missouri State together for two semesters and it was Kathryn who introduced her to Frank Carter, her future husband. He had come to Springfield during one of her spring semesters and they sat and visited in a porch swing. Soon he was visiting every Wednesday and Saturday night! Their dates usually consisted of seeing a movie and eating dinner. They had a date on December 7, 1941, when Frank told her that the war had begun. Elizabeth and Frank were married on April 5, 1942, in the farmhouse of her parents. They soon became the parents of two daughters, Nancy and Patricia, and while Frank was busy working at the bank, Elizabeth continued her education, graduating from Drury College, while raising her daughters and teaching. Elizabeth taught elementary school for 31 years at Little Creek, Otting, Mansfield, Mountain Grove and Pierce City. During what little free time she had, she enjoyed cooking, quilting, knitting, crocheting, reading and traveling. During her 59-year marriage to Frank, they saw much of he world including Europe, Africa, Australia, South America, Alaska, Hawaii and Israel. Elizabeth is survived by her daughters, Nancy (David) Billings of Huntsville, Ala., and Patricia (Robert) Campbell of Henderson, Nev.; four grandchildren, Robyn Ouchida, John Billings, Amanda Bassett and Jennell McKinzie; three great-grandchildren, Jace Ouchida, Charles Bassett and Carter McKinzie; along with her sisters, Kathryn Nichols and Florence Harris; as well as sister-in-law, Naomi Carter. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 31, 2007, in Greenlawn Funeral Home East, Springfield. Her body will lie in state at Fraker Funeral Home, Marshfield, until Thursday at 9 a.m. A visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time in Greenlawn Funeral Home East, Springfield. Burial will be in Steele Memorial Cemetery, Hartville, under the direction of Fraker Funeral Home. At Mrs. Carter's request, the casket will remain closed at all times. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Children's Miracle Network in care of Fraker Funeral Home, P.O. Box 85, Marshfield, MO 65706.