William "Bill" Carter

CARTER, JR., William (Bill), born September 28, 1927, passed away September 23, 2007. A wonderful and clever sense of humor that was always funny until the end. His early years gave him a very real and powerful sense of survival for his mother died when he was only four. This made life difficult for him and his one brother. They would stay with their aunts and their grandparents, but they never had one place to call home. So when they were about 5 or 6 they would go to the Tyler Court House each morning with a shoe shine box they built and try to make some money. Bill and his brother would each take a side of the court house. When he asked someone if they wanted their shoes shine and they said "no" he would say "let me show you how good your shoes will look". When they said ok he would shine one shoe then start to put up his polish. Then they would say aren't you going to shine the other one? I mean who wants to walk around with only one shiny shoe? So he would respond "If you pay me know I will shine the other". The price of a complete shoe shine was usually 5 or 10 cents for both shoes. After the shoe shine business he and his brother decided to join the military. He always said that it gave him a home at last. He had this home for about 23 years. He worked his way up through the ranks of the military ending his career as a Senior Master Sergeant. This dedication to the service would lead him throughout the rest of his years. As a business man after the military he was very successful and well respected in the business community of Mesquite. He wasn't just a tough business and military man but a loving man who loved animals. Every morning, he would have the birds waiting on the fence for him to feed them. When they lived at the lake, both the ducks and birds would be waiting down by the lakeside for him each morning. He even had the ability to call the squirrels to him. For 54 years he was a wonderful husband, provider, father and grandfather. We will miss him terribly, but God was ready for him to go home. So now we must wait to see him again in heaven but he will always be with us in spirit and in our hearts. Bill spent 23 years in the military and was in the automobile business for 15 years.He was a wonderful husband and father and he so loved his grandsons. Survived by wife of 54 years, Bobbye Carter; daughter, Suzanne Carter; grandsons, Josh Stringer & Jason Stringer. Graveside service will be 10:00AM Wednesday September 26, 2007 at Grove Hill Memorial Park. Family will receive friends at the funeral home Tuesday evening from 6:00PM to 8:00PM.