Wayne Thomas Carter
September 24, 1945 - January 28, 2010
Obituary
Wayne T. Carter
Wayne passed away on January 28, 2010 in his Maple Valley home. The son of Furman and Violet Carter, Wayne was born in Seattle on September 24, 1945 and raised in northwest Renton. He graduated from Renton High School in 1964 and received a B.A. in Education from Western Washington University in 1968. After graduation he married his junior high school sweetheart, Sarah Sally Ellis, and they began their teaching careers in West Seattle. Wayne taught fifth and sixth grade three years before illness forced an early retirement. He led as normal and meaningful life as possible despite his debilitating physical condition. Wayne showed remarkable courage and determination and maintained an optimistic and positive attitude. He was buoyed by lifelong friendships and possessed an infectious sense of humor.
A liberal thinker, Wayne used his computer to study and investigate, as well as to communicate with family and friends. ‘Wayne’s World’ included a variety of interests and passions. He was a history, politics, and current events buff, a gardener, a fisherman, an avid unlimited hydroplane fan, a Seahawks and Mariners supporter, a collector of snow globes, a fan of Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, the Beatles, and Elton John, and believed in Bigfoot and UFOs. His deepest love was for his wife of 41 years, Sally, their beloved daughter, Melissa DeFrance Hawkins, and his cherished grandchildren, Brandon Carter and Maya Marie DeFrance, all of Maple Valley. Wayne is also survived by his sister, Patricia Adams of Enumclaw, his brother, Jim Mary of Bellingham, two nephews, one niece, numerous cousins, and many friends.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 at 10:00 am at BONNEY-WATSON Washington Memorial, 16445 International Blvd., SeaTac, WA. 206 242-1787. Donations in Wayne’s memory may be made to Seattle Children’s Hospital or to the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum, 5917 South 196th Street, Kent, WA 98032.
We have been deeply touched by Wayne’s courage throughout his affliction and by such loving care within the family. How wonderful for him to see Melisa & Hawkins happily married, with a beautiful home and two gorgeous grandchildren. Well done Wayne.
The memorail service was a fine and fitting tribute to a great man and we were privileged to know him.
I met Wayne one day through my friend Steve Reynolds. That day he was smiling and had so much happy energy. Each time Wayne and I met and talked it was the same. Many of us would have been down if we were stricken like Wayne. He may have been in private, but in public his smile was as big as they get.After my Hydro days I still thought of Wayne. Always asking Steve what was up? The thing I missed was asking Wayne, or Sally what was up. We lost touch verbally, yet Wayne will always be in my mind as an inspiration and someone I look forward to meeting someday again. Then I too will be able to have that Wayne Carter smile. To all of you who gave so much of everything to Wayne. He truly loved it all and it made his life happier. Thank you from a friend from afar. Sally, I too am here in a time of need. Anytime. Love to you and your family. Seth.
Wayne was such as inspiration to many on how to overcome a disabilty and enjoy life. I didn’t see him often but when I did there was always a huge smile on his face. I never knew he collected sno globes. My daughter Kerri collects them also. Uncle Furman was always sure to include in his conversations about how Wayne was doing and esp enjoyed the fishing trips. Rest well Wayne, you deserve it.
Sally and family,
Wayne was a Renaissance man, unfortunately caught in a physical body that didn’t always cooperate. I have enjoyed knowing him through H.S., to the boating/fishing trips long ago with the Clows, to his e-mails that were funny or being the proud Grampa. He is an inspiration, and will be missed, but not forgotten. May your memories and time give you comfort. You are in my thoughts.
Always, Shari
We’ll miss you and try to help Sally and Melissa anyway we can.
We all have so many memories of Wayne and it is difficult to pull just a few out of the nearly 5 decades we were friends. Wayne did love to fish. And, he caught fish, too. Once on a spring afternoon he hooked and landed a chinook of 20lbs. His picture holding that fish is hanging now in my place at Clearwater. I still have the hat that Mustad rewarded him with for catching that beauty. And there were many more over the years, too, and, of course, lots of the evil dogfish he always called ‘doggies’ and cussed out as he pulled them aboard. I miss him very much and will think of him whenever I head out from the boathouse. And, to Sally his wonderful and loyal bride, I can only say thanks for doing so much to make his life-and ours by extension-so much better than it would have been. You have been a rock and a model for all of us to imitate whenever times are tough. We all love you and hope that you will call upon us when needed.
Joe Novak
Dear Sally and Family,
There aren’t many words that can express the sadness that Wayne is gone.We all will miss him in so many ways.I know many of us will remember fishing stories,others will remember his love for hydroplanes and who could possibly forget about his famous pin collection.Maybe you would rather forget about the pin collection Wayne was loved by all who knew him and he returned that love with his emails and infectious laughter.I will treasure my time with him and I know I will never forget him.Sally you are truly a remarkable and loving wife and an inspiration.All these years Wayne was a remarkable and loving husband and an inspiration too.
Bruce Nielsen
Sally- Fifty some years of memories, from running around the playfield at Bryn Mawr with those crazy hats with the fur ear flaps, to the timeI picked you up for a “date” with Wayne sitting in the back seat with Di. Do you think we fooled your folks?
We’ve admired you guys so much as you worked thru Wayne’s difficulties.
Our thoughts and prayer are with you and your family.
Mark and Di
Sally my heart goes out to you and your family. It is so shocking that it happened so suddenly I can’t imagine the void you must feel. I’ll miss him. We had so many great experiences together in the early years at Renton High and Western. Even though I had lost touch I enjoyed seeing you and Wayne at the reunions and am grateful I got to see you last summer. Please know that my thoughts are with you in this most difficult time.
Wayne ever-present sharing in many moments of my life. Like a close family memeber I always felt his support and care for me from the era of Melissa and I and barbies to summers at the hydro races to being there for my wedding day. You will be missed, thank you for being you.
Dear Sally & Family,
Please accept my deepest sympathy for your loss. I have almost 60 years of great memories of Wayne that have withstood the test of time. He was a true friend and I will miss him. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Sally and family,
I just can’t believe that Wayne is gone. Thankfully, we have a lifetime of memories to reflect upon. You and Wayne have been an inspiration to all of us for many years and probably don’t even realize it. I will be thinking of you two for quite some time.
Sally-
I was so sorry to hear about your loss. May happy memories sustain you in the months to come. Please know that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
With deepest sympathy,
Pat Auten
Sally, I always admired the way you and Wayne persevered through the challenges you both faced. Like others have said, it was definitely an inspiration. I wish I could thank Wayne for all the fun emails he sent me, cheering me up when it should have been the other way around. I’ll miss him a lot.
Wayne leaves an indelible bright spot in our lives. What wonderfully fond memories we shared – from his involvement with the PTA in Bellingham through lunches at the Black Diamond Bakery.
I can’t begin to count the number of fish stories and lies that Wayne and I conjured up out on the “chuck in the Czech”!!
W. will surely be missed. May Sally, Melissa and the family find comfort as the days pass by with the warm memories of this remarkable man.
I am very proud to be a friend of Wayne’s. I am so glad I did get to spend the time with him over the years. I am sorry the lunches kinda tapered off after he moved to Maplevalley. Sally and family I am at a loss of words right now, and I do want to extend my sincere condolences to each of you. Wayne was a treasure, and a good anchor to my past. I will miss him.
Dear Sally, I was so sorry to read of Wayne’s passing my heart goes out to you. I don’t know if it helps but he now is free to do all that he did before his illness, and you can start living again not always worrying about what will happen next. Wayne was a sweatheart and will be missed ,my thoughts are with you now and always,Love Judy
Dear Sally,
My deepest condolences to you and your family. As a former classmate of both of you, I remember you always being a kind and gentle caring person. Wayne was so fortunate to have your devotions. The last time I seen the two of you was at the 40th,I was unable to make the past one. My prayers are with you , Wayne is at peace with the Lord, and smiling down on his gentle love —You Sally.
GOD Blessed you with Wayne.
Sincerely Janice Karwowski Robichaud -Class of 1964-Renton High
Sally:
I am very sorry to hear of Wayne’s passing. He was an inspiration to me throughout all of these years. We had some great times in high school and I will truly miss his smiling face and positive attitude at our reunions. God bless.