Mary Carter

Mary Crowe Carter, 83, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Dec. 17, 2004, in Cape Girardeau.

Mrs. Carter was born Oct. 17, 1921, in Poplar Bluff to the late Lynn T. Sr. and Columbia (Martin) Metz.

Mrs. Carter earned a B.S. in education from Southeast Missouri State University and her M.Ed. in counseling from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and served in the field of education for over 40 years, including three decades spent in Poplar Bluff schools.

Though Mrs. Carter spent 12 years as a counselor, her first love was English, and she began and ended her career as a high school English teacher. In 1980, Mrs. Carter was honored as Teacher of the Year by the Poplar Bluff school system.

Mrs. Carter was a lifelong Presbyterian, growing up in the First Presbyterian Church in Poplar Bluff, where she sang in the church choir as a gifted vocalist and soloist, and also served as an elder. Music, reading and travel were among her favorite activities.

She was married in 1941 to William C. "Bill" Crowe, who preceded her in death in 1960. In 1993, she married Joseph Martin Carter, and he survives. She was the mother of three daughters, Maryjeanne Crowe Crawford and husband Jim of St. Louis; the late Ann Essig and surviving husband Dr. Leroy Essig, of Fredericksburg, Va., Betty O'Brien and husband John of St. Louis. She also leaves Joe Carter's son and daughters-in-law, Jill (the late Dr. Martin Carter) of Annisquam, Mass., and the Rev. Dr. James Carter and wife Martha Jane of Birmingham, Ala. Also surviving are three sisters, Margaret Cotrell, Rose McDaniel and Frances Godwin, all of Poplar Bluff; sisters-in-law Henrietta Metz, Jan Metz and Mayce Metz Taylor, all of Poplar Bluff.

Preceding her in death were her three brothers, Lynn Metz, Gene Metz and Col. James Metz.

Mrs. Carter was the grandmother of eight: Ken Crawford, Dr. Roy Essig and wife Dr. Liz Diakoff; Maryanna Stands and husband Dr. Christopher Stands, Michael and Patrick Essig, and Sean, Erin and Colin O'Brien. She also leaves many Carter grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Carter will be greatly missed, but her contributions and the many wonderful memories of her life will remain with her family and friends.

Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel. Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the First Presbyterian Church in Poplar Bluff with the Rev. Paul Kabo Jr. and the Rev. Dan Snider officiating. Burial will be in the city cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Poplar Bluff or the Chateau Girardeau Foundation, 3120 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63703.