William Allen Carter, 65, El Dorado Springs, was born Sept. 9, 1944, in Russell, KS, the fifth of six children of William Harvey and Lula Mae Wilson Carter. He departed this life on March 22, 2010, after a short battle with lung cancer.
Allen was a hard working man and loved his family very much. He was the go-to man for the entire family. If anyone needed help doing something, Allen was the one everyone called. His mother-in-law, Goldie, always told him he could never get sick because he was the one that everyone depended on.
Allen grew up and spent his life in the El Dorado Springs area. He graduated from El Dorado Springs High School in 1963. Shortly after graduation he joined the Army and served two years at Ft. Hood, TX.
In 1971 Allen married Janice Lyn Thornton. In 1990 their three children Christopher Allen, Jennifer Lyn and Eric J. Carter came into their lives and made their family complete. In April of last year, grandson Gabriel Allen joined the family and was the light of Allen’s life.
Allen began working when he was only 12 years old to make his own spending money and many times held two or three jobs at the same time. Most of his adult life was spent working with the railroad where he became a locomotive engineer.
“Ace” Carter was his railroad nickname, as he was a top-notch engineer. His work ethic was to be admired as he was a dedicated employee that missed only one call in his entire railroad career of over 40 years. He spent many Christmas and Thanksgiving holidays alone in a motel room away from home. When his wife, Janice, would tell him how sorry she was that he was not home with the family, his reply was always the same, “I am just glad that I have a job.” One particular Thanksgiving there were five dinners, one of which was just for him—and he missed all five of them. You don’t find employees like that every day.
After the railroad years slowed down, Allen began helping his father-in-law, J., in the carpentry trade and with the family farming. They both enjoyed the time working together and developed a very close bond over the years.
Allen loved family times and taking the kids camping and boating at the lake. He was a father figure for many kids over the years, including his niece, Gina, and nephew, Aaron. He sacrificed much to be sure that his family was well taken care of—many times being gone for months at a time to make extra money.
He loved spending time outdoors doing yard and garden work. And his favorite saying was always that he was “goin’ to go fishin’ at Caplinger.”
Allen was the kind of friend that was devoted. He once spent three days with a neighbor sitting at his hospital bedside, holding his hand, because he said that no one should ever die alone.
Allen spent his last days and hours surrounded by all of the family that he loved so much. In his younger years, when he was known for driving much too fast, he always said that God was riding with him and liked to drive fast; so now they are driving fast in Heaven.
Allen was saved as a young man at a revival meeting at Baptist Hill. Even though he did not attend church regularly he had a strong faith in God.
Allen was preceded in death by his mother, Lula Mae Carter; his dad, William Harvey Carter; and two brothers: Arthur Clyde and Floyd Ray Carter.
He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Janice Lyn; his son, Christopher Allen; his daughter, Jennifer Lyn; his son, Eric J; and his grandson, Gabriel Allen Carter, all of El Dorado Springs. Also surviving are: his brother, Lloyd Ralph Carter - Excelsior Springs; two sisters: Shirley Cargill, and husband, Mervin, and Sharlene Houk, and husband, Roy Lee - all of Stockton; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Bernard J. and Goldie Thornton, El Dorado Springs; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Bernard J. and Linda Thornton of Manchester, MI; his sister-in-law, Sharon Kennon, El Dorado Springs; and a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and many friends.
He will be greatly missed by many.
Visitation was held at Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 24. Services will begin at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 25, at Bland-Hackleman Chapel with Rev. James Coleman officiating. Interment will follow in Clintonville Cemetery under the direction of Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be: B. J Thornton, Aaron Blystone, Mackenna Blystone, Zachery Allison, Chandler Allison, Marvin Rickey, Peyton Poore and Randy Carter. Honorary pallbearers will be: David Houk, Donnie Houk, Billy Carter, Ron Duvall, Tom Webber, Tom Hartley, David Dockins and Jeff Jenkins.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to High Hopes.
