Donna Carter, of Etowah, Tennessee, died on Monday, May 25, 2015.
She was born July 17, 1941 on Fortner’s Ridge to James Frederick and Margaret Edna (McDowell) Clark. She was the oldest daughter of ten children. She graduated from Claiborne County High School and attended Business School at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee. Donna married in 1963 and had three daughters; Shawn, Kevi, and Kourtney. In 1978, Donna met and married her best friend and soul mate, Tim Carter. As a couple they started and successfully operated Carter Cleaning Company and Carter Construction Company. Throughout their marriage, they enjoyed and experienced the abundance of life promised to us through Jesus Christ. Donna was an eternal student of the Bible and was an ardent prayer warrior. She enjoyed a close and personal relationship with GOD and spent many hours on her knees and in His word seeking GOD’s mercy and will. Donna was a phenomenal gardener and her love of flowers and all things in nature permeated her life. Many photographs have been taken of her magnificent azaleas blossoming in the background. Donna had many interests and attacked each endeavor with fervor and zest. She loved teaching Sunday school to the youth at First Baptist Church of Etowah and hosting visiting youth groups from sister churches. She loved to sing, and most recently, her greatest joy was as a regular member of the choir at Cambria Baptist Church. She loved hiking in the Smokies and there isn’t a trail that she and Tim haven’t conquered, Competitve by nature, she belonged to the Ladies Bridge Club throughout the 1960’s and 70’s; and was an indefatigueable opponent on the tennis courts and a maniacal Boggle player. She was a complicated and passionate woman whose mere prescence energized a gathering and now whose absence will be forever felt. As her family, we believe her promise that she gave us during her final moments: “I’ll see you on the other side.” Yes, we will.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Joe, Don, Ray and Mickey Clark; sisters, Ann Reynolds, Kathy Clark and Sue Clark; mother and father-in-law, Hazel and Paul Carter; brother-in law, Glen Jenkins; and son-in-law, Michael Sanson.
She is survived by her husband of 36 years, Tim Carter of Etowah; daughters, Shawn Sanson of Etowah, Kevi Payne of Cleveland and Kourtney Hutcheson of Athens; grandchildren, Sara Woods of Decatur, Alex and Shelly Sanson of Etowah, Henry Woods and Trinity Sanson; sister and brother-in-law, Sally and Bill Poff of Dandridge; brother, Richard Clark of Dayton, OH; sisters-in-law, Carol Stanton of Dayton, OH and Judy Jenkins of Etowah; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Chris and Ronnie Huskey of Etowah; brother-in-law, Jerry Reynolds; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.
A celebration of Donna’s life will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, June 6, in the chapel of Serenity Funeral Home.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at Serenity Funeral Home, who has charge of the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Cambria Baptist Church.