John Paul Carter

John Paul Carter lived a full and happy life.  Born on January 29,1953 in Berkeley California to parents, John Harrison and Melba Earlene Carter he lived and traveled back and forth from state to state a lot in his life.  He loved telling stories of their time in the vehicles and how they would break down and he would have to crawl under to fix the cars by reattaching a belt that had come lose, or how he learned to drive taking those long ventures from state to state. His first job was selling cold drinks at stadiums at the age of 8.  Eventually settling in Oklahoma, he then graduated from OSU and worked for General Motors for over 27 years until he retired. 

             When he was just a teenager he fell in love for the first time, but time and distance would separate the two of them, never allowing that love to blossom.  Over the years he would pray for God to bring him the right person to share his life with.  When they say it’s all in “God’s timing” they aren’t exaggerating, because 42 years later, in 2008, he reconnected with that lost love.  They courted and took their time to make sure it was a union woven together by God, and on July 29, 2014, he finally married his Teresa Jo. 

            Even though time had separated them over the years this union blessed him abundantly, starting with the immediate family that he gained by marriage including two daughters and son-in-law’s Patrick Wayne Hall and Tammy Michelle Hall and Teresa Elaine Winters and Shawn Michael Winters.  He was an instantaneous father and grandfather, and he loved every minute of it.  He took pride in building the grandkids a little park in his front yard where he could enjoy time with them and watch them play.  They would make smores out in the backyard or play vintage games inside, but the most special time for John was when he sat down for bible study with them all, reading the word of God together and learning how to apply it in our everyday lives.

            John would help anyone he could and made it a mission to be a guiding light to those that he came into contact with.  He always took the time to listen to those that God brought into his life, and he never missed out on an opportunity to spread the word of Jesus.  He always said one of the best decisions he ever made was reading out loud 3 chapters a day from the Bible, allowing the word of God to seep into his heart and be an active participant and guide in his life.  While his wife, Teresa, would say he was the love of her life, John would always say Jesus was the love of his. This was evident by the way he spent his time, how he helped others without question, and by how many people love him.  

            John loved to draw, especially horses, but he had great zeal for the outdoors, tinkering on projects around the house or in the shed, but his real love and passion was woodworking.  He could create a masterpiece out of a few pieces of wood, taking his time, ensuring every detail was correct, and in the process creating a true work of art. 

            On September 13, 2022 at 8:48 am, John took his final breath here on earth and walked into Jesus’ loving arms.  No doubt that he heard the words “well done good and faithful servant” and was greeted by all of the loved ones that preceding him in death: parents John Harrison and Melba Carter, his sister Brenda Jane Johnson, Brother in law Ruffus Lee Hill, and niece Shari Dawn Lockner.   

He is survived by his wife Teresa Jo, children by marriage; daughter Tammy Hall and son-in-law Patrick Hall, daughter Teresa Winters and son-in-law Shawn Winters, sisters Linda Kay Hill and Cheryl Ann Trent, brother in law Danny Wayne Trent, 9 grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

John 5:24 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death unto life.

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