DR. KENNETH CARTER

Kenneth Thair Carter, 85, formerly of Ellington, passed away Wednesday, April 26, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born April 3, 1915, in St. Johns, Mich., second son of Volney A. and Anna Irene Eibach Carter.

Preceding him in death was his parents and a brother, Walter Blackburn Carter.

After graduating from Alma State College in Alma, Mich., he enrolled at Kirksville College of Osteopathy and received his degree in 1941. After serving in the U.S. Army Medical Corps during World War II, he interned at Detroit Osteopathic Hospital in a two-year program and earned his OB/GYN degree.

He was married to Bettie Jean Buffington Jan. 6, 1951, at the United Methodist Church parsonage in Blytheville, Ark. She survives the home.

Survivors include a son, Kenneth T. Carter II of Ellington; a daughter, Bettie and son-in-law Jim Huck of Cape Girardeau; two grandsons, Kevin Skaggs and wife Amy of Cape Girardeau, Kenneth T. Carter III of St. Louis; a granddaughter, Julie Skaggs Tsikhlakis and husband Ted of West Plains; two stepgrandchildren, Joshua and Jessica Huck of Cape Girardeau; three great-granddaughters, Alison and Taylor Skaggs and Aleni Tsikhlakis.

Dr. Carter retired from his practice in Ellington in 1990. During his years in practice he served as Reynolds County coroner, member of Southern Reynolds County School Board, and chief of staff at Reynolds County Memorial Hospital.

During the 1960s and 1970s he conducted the Well Child and Family Planning Clinics in Butler, Wayne, Reynolds, Carter and Shannon counties.

He was a member of Barnesville Masonic Lodge A.F.&A.M. of Ellington, Ellington VFW Post 6043, and was a past worthy patron of Order of Eastern Star 312 of Ellington.

In his active years he enjoyed fishing, hunting, golf and bowling. After retiring he spent most of his leisure time in his workshop. Due to serious health problems, he and Bettie moved to Cape Girardeau in 1998.

Memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 6, 2000, at McSpadden Funeral Home in Ellington. The Rev. Connie Gallagher of the United Methodist Church and the Rev. Noel Meade of the Missionary Baptist Church will officiate. He will be laid to rest in Ellington Memorial Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Ellington United Methodist Church Building Fund.