Donald Lee Carter, 47, died June 8, 2017. Donald was born June 30, 1969, in Virginia to Danny and Lois Carter. He married Myra Marie (Douglas) Carter on Oct. 15, 1988. To this union they had five children: Joshua, Emilee, Mikaela, Adrieanna and Abigail.
Don answered the call to preach in 1990 at Union Grove Free Will Baptist Church in Norwood, Mo. The first sermon he preached was Matthew vhapter 25. His ministry started at Number 1 Free Will Baptist Church in Huggins, Mo. From there, he went to Kingsway Free Will Baptist Church in Springfield, Mo. Next, he went to Wolf Creek Free Will Baptist Church in Mansfield, Mo. He was at Wolf Creek for three years before he moved his ministry to First Free Will Baptist Church in Springfield, Mo.
In 2014, Don started pastoring at Huntsville Free Will Baptist Church in Huntsville, Ark., where he was pastoring at the time of his death. Don loved his church families.
In 2005, God answered Don’s desire to start a Christian school called New Heights Christian Academy at First Free Will Baptist Church in Springfield, Mo. The Lord blessed the school for several years. In 2013, God provided a way for us to move the school to Battlefield, Mo. The school name was changed to Battlefield Christian Academy. While being an administrator, Don was involved in several activities with the school, which included archery, student conventions, field trips, etc. He was always available to any student or parent that needed help.
Having five kids always kept Don involved in their activities. He became a part of the Springfield Knights Organization as both a father and a basketball coach. He was so absorbed with his kids playing sports and being at their games that he committed himself to the organization and helped out in any way he possibly could.
Don also enjoyed other activities like fishing, going to Cardinals’ games, MSU bears basketball, watching NFL football (favorite team was Miami Dolphins) and being involved with his grandkids lives. He loved all the kids that his daughter Abigail cares for. He especially enjoyed trying to sneak Oreo’s to them, or any other snack he could without Abigail being aware. One of Don’s favorite things to do was to give each grandkid a package of Oreo’s for Christmas. Sugar ‘em up and send ‘em home.
Don is survived by his wife, Myra Marie Carter, of 28 years; his children, Joshua Carter and wife, Dessa, of Thayer, Mo., Emilee Brown and husband, Matthew, of Springfield, Mo., Mikaela Hedges and husband, Ira, of Nowata, Okla., Adrieanna Carter of Springfield, Mo., Abigail Carter of Springfield, Mo.; his father, Danny Lee Carter of Houston, Mo.; his siblings, Brent Carter of Houston, Mo., Deneta Nichols and husband, Brad, of Republic, Mo., and Melena Carter of St. Louis, Mo.; five grandchildren, Bradley, Brooklyn, Kinsley, Joseph and Caleb; two nieces, Megan and Libbie; and three nephews, Kody, Cole, and Aidan.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Lois; and one granddaughter, Addison.
Services for Don were 11 a.m. Monday, June 12, 2017, at Greenlawn Funeral Home East. Interment was in Union Cemetery near Cabool, Mo.
PAID
