Ellis Ray Carter

Ellis Ray Carter, widower of Margaret “Sue” Tandy Carter, passed away Tuesday, September 26, 2023. He was 96 years, 5 months, and 9 days, and he would tell you exactly that if you asked him. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by his grandson Caleb Service, a sister, Martha Carter VanMeter, and a brother, Fred Carter. He is survived by his four children Gwen Carter (Rick) Cobb, Beverly Carter Service, E.R. “Chip” Carter II, and Kristi K. Carter. He was a proud and loving grandfather to Sarah Service, Caleb (Marainda) Service, Hannah (Josh) Noble, Daniel Service, Amelia Service, Kit Carter, and Morgan Carter, and outstanding great-grandfather to Brayden, Dylan, Gavin, Marek, Ryan, Silas and Eli. He is also survived by a sister, Eula Mae Carter Jarrett; sisters-in-law Kathy Tandy Ammerman, Edith Wilson Tandy, and Alma Barrick Carter; brother-in-law, Howard VanMeter; and several nieces and nephews. He was born April 17, 1927, the oldest child of Alfred Walker Carter and Susan May Crabb Carter. He was a 1944 graduate of Hartford High School. His college career at the University of Kentucky was interrupted by World War II. He joined the U.S. Navy and served in the South Pacific on the U.S.S. Bowditch. He was honorably discharged in 1946, and returned to UK where he earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Biology, graduating in 1950. He began work in Fisheries at the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife in 1951, before moving to Frankfort and taking the position of Wildlife Biologist in 1954, which he continued until he retired in 1988. Many Frankfort residents would remember him as Dr. Doolittle while he worked at the Game Farm, and the family even lived on the property for many years. Many weekends would see abandoned or injured animals dropped off at the Carter house. His kids remember feeding deer on a bottle in the dog pen, the chinchilla, racoons, squirrels, rabbits, the Belgian Hare, and often visiting the quail being hatched in the incubator house. The family also bred and sold poodles so there were always puppies to play with. Ellis was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church. He loved to play bridge, bowl, and even square dance in his day. He loved watching and listening to UK Basketball and Football games, and rarely missed an episode of The Price is Right, Wheel of Fortune, and Jeopardy. He had a voracious appetite for knowledge and always asked the next question. Google came in very handy in his later years. He also still subscribed to the Lexington Herald Leader which he had delivered on a paper route for $1.10 a week while he attended school in Lexington in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s. In the last several years he survived the isolation of the Covid pandemic, a house fire, a tornado, and arguments with his children with the same good-natured resilience. Funeral services will be held at Harrod Brothers Funeral Home at 1pm on Tuesday, October 3rd, 2023. Visitation will be from 10am until service time at 1pm. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Pall bearers will be Daniel Service, Brayden Service, Dylan Service, Josh Noble, Ricky Mazza, and Rodney Webber. Honorary bearers will be Rick Cobb, Gavin Noble, Marek Noble, Ryan Noble, Silas Noble, and Eli Service. Flowers are welcome, or donations may be made to the Salato Center at the Game Farm (https://kentuckywildlife.com/salato-wildlife-education-center/) or the charity of one’s choice. Arrangements are under the direction of Harrod Brothers Funeral Home & Crematory. Condolences may be made via the online guestbook at www.harrodbrothers.com.

Tributes

Ellis Ray Carter

April 17, 1927 - September 26, 2023