Obituary of Ronald F. Carter

Ronald F. Carter, of Oregon City, passed away on the morning of October 9, 2010. He was 75. Ron was born to Frank and Loraine Carter in Clatskanie, Oregon on March 11, 1935. He grew up in the Portland area where he attended Woodmere Grade School; while there he was elected the Rose Festival Prince. He graduated from Franklin High School in 1953. Ron’s first after-school job was working as a custodian sweeping floors at Arleta Grade School. There he met and worked alongside Ken Schultz who brought him home for dinner one night and introduced him to his sister, JoAnne. which was the beginning of a 59 year romance. From that day on, Ron and JoAnne were inseparable. JoAnne was always by his side. She never knew the passenger side of the pickup—she’d slide right up next to him in the middle of the bench seat and you’d always see their two heads together as they drove away. Ron spent 8 years in the Naval Reserve which he joined shortly after asking JoAnne to go steady. With his friend and fellow reservist, Walt Inskeep, in tow Ron travelled to Tijuana and had JoAnne’s name tattooed on his left arm. The happy couple was married on November 19, 1955 at Kern Park Christian Church in Portland, OR. They started their life together in Portland where they had their three children, Lisa, Linda, and Larry. As the family grew, they needed a larger home prompting a move to Milwaukie in 1966. They raised their family there, and had just recently moved into their new home in Oregon City. Ron started out as a box boy for Piggly Wiggly and worked his way up to management. He was employed by Hudson House (Piggly Wiggly and Three Boys Market) for 22 years until they went out of business. Later, his dream of becoming a truck driver came true when he was hired by Frito-Lay in route sales. He retired from Frito-Lay in 1997 after 25 years of service and several bean dip rack head scars to prove it. Early on, he and his dad were avid duck hunters. As a kid he, Ken, and Mike Jenkins would skip school and go down on the Clackamas River, break the cable crossing locks and take the cable car across the river. He loved fishing on the Deschutes. He loved camping, both in the wilderness and later at the family beach lot in Long Beach, Washington where the whole family would get together and camp during the major holidays each year. Four generations would come up and camp, play horseshoes, badminton, and Uno. The best times were spent enjoying his mother’s sweet rolls and brownies and laughing by the campfire together while sharing silly Carter family stories. Ron liked to golf and play Country Life and Farkle on his computer. The times spent with the family were the most precious to him. He loved family game night with his kids where his son, Larry, would bartend and play games until the wee morning hours. Ron is survived by his wife, JoAnne E. Carter, daughter Lisa Schwarz (son-in-law Peter), daughter Linda Sunseri (son-in-law Frank), son Larry Carter (daughter-in-law Sally), brother Jim Carter (sister-in-law Jeanie),and brother-in-law Ken Schultz (sister-in-law Nancy). He also leaves behind 12 grandchildren, Adam Deich, Joseph Deich, Jenny Hollifield (husband-Michael), Heidi Day (husband-Jacob), Joshua Carter (wife-Jenelle), Amanda Carter, Danika Carlson, Erik Schwarz, Mallory Mason, Sam and Carly Minor and 3 great-grandchildren, Ethan Carter, Araya Carter, Samuel Hollifield. Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Loraine Carter. There will be a gathering of family and friends to reminisce and celebrate Ron’s life on Saturday, October 16th from 1:00-4:00pm at his new Oregon City home. Friends and family can find more information by checking his children’s Facebook pages. Arrangements by Crown Memorial Center – Milwaukie.