Obituary of Gerald R. Carter

Jerry Carter was born in Newberg, Oregon in 1939. He was raised in the lumber industry. His father and uncle owned a stream-operated mill in Brookings, Oregon, and Jerry began working in the mill at an early age. When his uncle broke his leg, Jerry took his place on the log deck, moving logs from the pond to the mill. He was only 11 years old. Jerry and his parents moved to Rio Dell, California, in 1953 when he was 14. His dad bought several acres of good timber and together they logged it. After he graduated from high school in 1957 and finished his first year of college at Humboldt State College, he started working at a plywood mill in Fortuna, California. In June of 1960, Jerry married Sharon Gardner and they had two daughters, Lisa and Lori. He worked at the plywood mill for seven years. As his family grew, Jerry decided to pursue his education and moved his family to Klamath Falls, Oregon, where he received a degree in accounting, which allowed him to provide for his family without putting his life and limbs at risk in the lumber industry. After graduation, he worked briefly for a foundry before returning to the lumber industry, working for Weyerhaeuser, not in the woods or in a mill but as an accountant in the office. The family relocated to Aberdeen, Washington, and then Hot Springs, Arkansas. After working in an office for many years, Jerry missed the hands-on of working in a mill and returned to managing a lumber mill in Philadelphia, Mississippi, and then back to the Pacific Northwest to Raymond, Washington. After struggling with a congenital eye disease that caused continual vision loss, Jerry was forced to quit the lumber industry. During this time, he managed a shrimp processing plant in South Bend, Washington, until that also became impossible due to his deteriorating vision. He was declared legally blind and began learning to navigate life in a different way. After a few years, Jerry attended the culinary school at South Seattle Community College. Through a state Business Enterprise Program (BEP), Jerry was selected to manage the cafeteria in the legislative building at the state capitol. He had one weekend to be ready to open the doors to the public. He operated the location successfully for many years, increasing business through catering for political fundraisers and eventually, weddings. In 1992, after 10 years of operation in the capitol, Jerry bought his own restaurant in Shelton, Washington. He was the only BEP client to leave the program and start his own business. Again he succeeded in creating a business that was personally and financially rewarding. The restaurant was sold in 2004 and Jerry and Sharon officially retired and started traveling: road trips, cruises and long distance flying. Both of them enjoyed this period of time. They often traveled with family and friends and that made it even more special. In 2012, Jerry was diagnosed with leukemia. After months of treatment and frequent hospital stays, he lost his battle with the disease. Jerry died at home on August 9, 2014. Jerry is survived by his wife, Sharon L. Carter; daughters, Lisa D. (Dean) Corcoran of Bothell, Washington, and Lori D. (Michael) Greenwood of College Station, Texas; grandchildren, Rebecca Corcoran of Portland, Oregon and Bryson Greenwood of College Station, Texas; and many cousins in Washington and Oregon. His parents predeceased him. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Please leave memories of Jerry or condolences for his family in the Guestbook below.