John, “Merrill” to family, “Boake” to college friends, and “Jack” to the Long Island carpool, died in his sleep on Sunday, October 7, 2018. John, born on November 26, 1920, was the son of John Elmer and Lena Sylvester Carter. He grew up in Etna, Maine, attended public schools in Etna and Newport, and graduated from the University of Maine at Orono in 1942 with a BS in Agricultural Economics and Farm Management. He briefly taught Vocational Agriculture at Hermon High School before enlisting in the Army Air Forces at the beginning of WWII.
John became a co-pilot on a B-17 bomber completing 35 missions over Europe with the 8th Army Air Forces based in England. He then transferred to an American Air Forces group primarily performing weather reconnaissance flying British Mosquitoes. While returning to the USA on the Queen Mary after his service he learned to play bridge; it became a lifelong passion.
Upon returning from serving in the Army Air Forces he settled in Augusta and married Joyce Ramsay on June 19, 1947. He opened Capital Bottling Co. which he operated until the late 1950s. He then accepted a position with the USDA as an agricultural market reporter and worked in Boston and New York. While in New York he joined Urner Barry Publications as a partner and before his retirement served as President of the company. He retired in 1986.
He and Joyce moved to Maine from their home in Toms River, NJ settling first in Portland and then moving to Piper Shores, a retirement community in Scarborough. John was an avid golf, bridge, and cribbage player, enjoyed big band music and a Manhattan before dinner.
John is predeceased by his wife Joyce Ramsay Carter and by his three brothers Dudley, Frank and Paul and two sisters Gwendolyn Harvey and Elena (Dot) Bird. He is survived by his daughters Jane Weir (Bob) and Nancy Carter (Jim Condon), two grandsons Ian Carter (Megan) and Liam Carter-Condon, and many nieces, nephews, and their offspring.
A concert by the Bellamy Jazz Band starting at 3pm followed by a reception at 4pm will be held at Piper Shores, 15 Piper Road, Scarborough, ME on Saturday, October 13, 2018.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations in memory of John to the Iona Grant Fund which provides programs for Senior Citizens (payable to Iona Grant Fund, c/o Woodfords Congregational Church, 202 Woodfords Street, Portland, ME 04103) or to benefit the Piper Shores Endowment Fund (payable to Piper Shores, note “Endowment Fund in memory of John Carter”; mail to Piper Shores, 15 Piper Road, Scarborough, ME 04074 ATTN: Endowment Fund).
The family would like to thank the staff of Piper Shores for the wonderful care their father has received since 2005.
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