Paul C Carter

Paul Clayton Carter was born on April 30, 1925, in a farmhouse just south of Gurley, Nebraska. His mother was Dorothy Carter Shelby, who was married to Loren Shelby. Loren Shelby left shortly after Paul was born.

Paul’s mother, Dorothy raised Paul by herself, and they moved around a lot. The last place Paul and his mother lived was in Hartville, Wyoming and he was around the age of 4 years old. Paul’s mother, Dorothy died of pneumonia in Guernsey, Wyoming, on May 19, 1929, which happened to be the date of her birthday. Paul’s grandparents, on his mother’s side, Thomas and Nina Carter, adopted Paul and changed his name to Carter. Paul began living his life, where he was raised with his grandparents in Bridgeport, Nebraska.

Looking back, at the age of 10 years old, Paul remembers his 1st BB gun. Paul was beginning to have a great fascination for guns, which he still has to this day. His “Gramps” surprised Paul one day and said, “That’s for you ‘ole Kid.” Later, Paul was 12 when he bought and got his 1st 22 single shot rifle (For $3.00 at that time). Paul’s Uncle Art and Gramps said it was against their wishes. They said he was too young!

Also, at the age of 10, one other favorite hobby Paul had was reading, especially reading the “Wild West Weekly,” by Street & Smith. Paul’s “Gramps” subscribed to them. Paul remembers his favorite book was “Smoky” about a horse, which was also his 1st book. Paul still has the magazine collection of the “Wild West Weekly,” and was first published in 1906.

At 11 years old, Paul started trapping, more so at the age of 13 and 14 years old. It was the first time Paul was earning his own money. He was trapping muskrats, rabbits, etc. He learned how to skin from reading books on trapping.

In 1938, the Carter family moved to a great old two-story farmhouse which was located where Bomgaars is now. The Carter’s worked for the owner, Ben Dunlap. Ben was the owner of a grain elevator, and he was also a feed dealer. He was a good friend to Paul’s granddaddy and also to Paul. The farm was 80 acres of farmland and 20 acres of pasture. This was during the time of Paul’s young years of when he was learning how to trap. Paul also met some new and great friends while living there, Billy Logan and Hojio boys. Paul said these were some of the best years of his life!

Paul began school at, “Kelly Elementary School,” (6 or 7 miles of Northport), K- 3rd grade. Then, “Degraw School,” 3rd-6th grade and after that “Bridgeport Elementary Grade School,” 7th and 8th grade. Paul then went to Bridgeport High School, 9th and 10th, but quit because it was during war time and later went back in 1945 and graduated in 1946. When Paul went back to school, he was able, (under with the agreement of the school), to return as a Senior. While Paul was a 10th grade sophomore (before he quit school to work on the farm), Paul was President of the Bridgeport Chapter of FFA. Paul had many impressive and wonderful accomplishments. As a Senior, Paul was President of the National Honor Society. During Paul’s H.S. class of 1946, while attending Bridgeport H.S., the “Bridgeport News Blade” of May 1946 had a newspaper heading on the front page, “Congratulations! Class of 1946 of Bridgeport High School.”

There were a few headings on the first page which Paul was named: “Future Plans of Seniors Vary.” Paul was listed along with other students of their future plans and Paul was listed in the Bridgeport paper” (Paul Carter, BHS 3 yrs, “to work on home farm”). On the same page, another heading: “44 Honored for Scholarship.” Paul was listed along with other Senior students for honorary scholarship for excellence in scholarship during the year. Another accomplishment on the same page of “Congratulations to the Students”, Paul was listed in the” Activities Banquet”. A group of students were awarded under the name, “Skyroom”, various phases of extra-curricular work as well as scholastic efforts. Paul served as master of ceremonies. Paul was also listed under the “Club Proprietorship Management”, as one of many students who were elected. Another headline under “Class Roll and Activities”, Paul was listed, Paul Carter: Boys Glee, FFA, National Honor Society. And finally, under the heading of “Strange Doing’s in 1966”, Paul was one of many with their future ideas of who they will be. Paul’s article was wrote as saying, “Paul Carter is very famous now as a Forest Ranger; Article also says, “Well, who would ever think it.” Paul also presided over athletic awards program.

During the war time years in 1942-1947, Paul worked on the farm, helping “Gramps” and Uncle Art. Paul was called in for an exam to sign up for the Army and was deferred, for what was known as a classified 2C, which was for farmers growing edible crops to help with the military cause. Most of the farm boys in this area were appointed as classified 2C. Paul was working on two different farms, working potatoes, barely, beans and sugar beets, (beets were the main crop), and also raised alfalfa. It hailed a lot, and they weren’t able to get much help recovering crops during the hailstorms. Paul’s best friend, Billy Logan, went into the Marines and fought at Tarawa and was killed at Saipan on June 17, 1944. Paul received letters from Billy while Billy was fighting in some of the worst battles in the Pacific. Paul remembers a lot of the crazy adventures him and Billy had before the war, camping, etc.

Paul always loved tractors from childhood years. He drove his first tractor at 14 years old. After Paul’s “Gramps” died, Nov. 9, 1946, the farm and equipment was sold. Paul’s grandma, (Nina), had a sister, (Sarah) who lived in Florida and Paul drove his grandma to see her sister on June 15, 1947, in Paul’s first car, a 1940 Pontiac Coup. One year later, his grandma took the bus to go back to Bridgeport, NE and Paul stayed due to his job and meeting Doris Curry. They were married March 14, 1948. Paul had been working for a construction site which was building a new railroad depot., and two days after Paul and Doris were married, Paul lost the job at the depot because help was no longer needed, so then, for a short time, he took a job building shipping boxes, (crates), 8 cents per box. He learned to become efficient at that rate. After that, he began working at a cabinet shop for a few months. He learned a lot about cabinet making, carpentry work and furniture building. Paul’s big accomplishment was doubling the size of his and Doris’s house. He remodeled the inside and did electrical work, roofing and plumbing, and Paul did this work all alone. The following year, Doris gave birth to a son, Larry Michael, (now goes by Mike), born June 14, 1949. On December 16, 1954, Paul later began working for the Gainesville Fire Department for 6 years. After working for the fire department, Paul eventually began working for the Postal Service and retired the postal service after service 30 years in 1985. At the time, when Paul was working for the post office, his wife Doris died of a brain Aneurysm, (02-04-74). Paul and Doris were married almost 26 years. Their son Michael later had children of his own. Paul and Doris were grandparents to Lauen, Jacquelyn and Michael, Jr.

Michael Sr., his wife, Nancy and their children now live in Minneapolis, MN. Paul later, (while still working at the Post Office), met Luann Jean Larsen and were married December 2, 1975. While married to Luann, Paul built a barn on their 5 acres of land and Paul bought his first tractor. He planted and grew oats, etc. Paul and Luann also grew a garden and had apple trees. After many years, Luann had been fighting a losing battle of MS and passed away on January 24, 2016, after a marriage of 40 years. Paul and Luann traveled all continental 48 states while Luann was still well. Later, while Luann was still struggling with her MS, Paul decided to buy a house in Bridgeport, (upon his retirement, and move from Florida back to his home state of NE) and although Paul retired from the Post Office in 1984, they were finally able to move into their home in 1985. This was one year later after Paul’s retirement in Florida. Unfortunately, Luann’s disease had progressed to an extent that she had no idea that they moved. (This house that Paul bought was on 618 N St, in Bridgeport). After moving to their new home, Paul bought his 1st tractor in Melbeta in 1986 or 1987. Paul also bought other machinery at farm sales with the intentions of farming his own land. In 1988, Paul bought an 80-acre farmland. The land was in bad condition and Paul had to do a lot of work clearing out and making the land into a productive farm. Paul raised beans, corn and hay. Paul, then (with a loan) bought a new home to put on his farm property. After 15 years, Paul was able to pay the loan off. All throughout the years of Luann’s progressive disease of MS, she was assisted with her care, (at home) by a professional health care worker, Alberta Catron, who cared for Luann for 20 years on certain days of the week. During the night, Paul took care of Luann and would put her to bed. Then 10 years later, Paul would get Luann up and get her ready to be cared for by the McNair’s (Lorri) on every other day, in rotation days of the week that Alberta was caring for Luann. Later, Luann was admitted to the Skyview Nursing Home where, unfortunately, she eventually passed away.

Paul later, had his 3rd marriage to Debra D Downing. They had met where she was working and are still married to this day.

Paul’s hobbies are collecting guns, (mainly Winchesters). He is very familiar with all types of guns and has also built gun parts. Also, reading was a favorite hobby of his, but with his eyesight fading, reading became difficult. He loves tractors, farming and carpentry work. Also, when he was young, he was somewhat of an artist, and even worked and drew some of his own drafting plans. Paul also has a talent for remembering poems and songs from his time period. In the past, he had even written some of his own poetry.

Paul especially like a poem written by Joyce Kilmer: There’s a tree in the meadow with a stream passing by, and carved upon that tree, I see “I’ll love until I die” “I think that I shall never see, a poem as lovely as a tree. A tree that looks at God all day and lifts her leafy arms to pray. A tree that May and Summer were, a nest of Robins in her hair. Poems are made by fools like me, but only God can make a tree.”

Paul was “saved” sometime in the 1990’s at the Assembly of Christ in Bridgeport, NE. He was also baptized, September 10, 1995 at “Post” Lake, south of Bridgeport. The lake is still there today. The pastor at the time was Mel Johnson.

Paul was preceded in death by his mother Dorothy Agnus Carter, gramps and grandmother Thomas and Nina Carter, aunts and uncles Arthur Carter, Fern Carter (Gilbert) Wood and Adelaide Carter, wives Doris Carter and Luann Carter.

Paul is survived by his wife Debra Downing Carter, son Michael (Nancy) Carter, grandchildren Lauren, Jacquelyn and Michael Jr and great grandchild and cousins.

Paul Clayton Carter passed away Sunday, November 3, 2024, at Skyview of Bridgeport. His funeral service will be held on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at 2:00 pm at Church of Christ with Pastor Jonathan Seng officiating. Burial will follow the service at Oregon Trail Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be an hour prior funeral. Fond memories and condolences may be left at www.bridgeportmemorialchapel.com. Bridgeport Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.