CARTER, Esther Anna

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Saturday, November 18, 2006 Esther Anna (Pirtle) Carter, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, teacher and friend passed peacefully to her eternal reward at the age of 94 on November 16, 2006. She was born in Alto Pass, Illinois, February 23, 1912, to Clinton and 'Byrd' Pirtle, their third girl and the first of twins, Esther and Lester. The family moved from an Illinois farm to Fallon, Nevada, by train (even the family cow came in a boxcar) because school books for children in Nevada were free. She went two years to the University of Nevada in Reno and then taught at North Truckee school, Dayton (A one-room school with first through sixth grades), Dunphy Ranch (eight students), substituted in Yerington and taught in Fallon, Nevada, for many years - then retired and substituted until she was 82 years old. She married Ed S. Price June 5, 1937. They had three children, Patricia, Edna and Clinton. She enjoyed sewing, reading, church activities and teaching. She belonged to AAUW (American Association of University Women), Retired Teacher's Association and Gideons, (she held state offices in the last two), Church of the Nazarene (served on the board) and was appointed by the Nevada governor to serve on the Senior's Health Advisory Board. She was honored on her 90th birthday in 2002 with a proclamation from the Mayor of Fallon, Nevada, stating and 'Esther Carter Day.' The mayor had been one of her first graders. On April 17, 1960, she married Clarence T. Carter at the Churchill County Hospital solarium. They had the wedding planned and days before he had an accident with a kerosene weed burner. Since family members had traveled for their wedding, they went ahead and have the ceremony at the hospital. She then had to step-sons, Merwin and Ray Carter. She was preceded in death by her son, Clinton price; husband Clarence Carter; great-grandson Damien Choinski; brothers, less Pirtle and Noel Pirtle (died in World War II); and sisters, Roseann Hastie and Olga Loveri dge.she is survived by children, Pat Strickland, Edna Dianda, Merwin Carter, Ray Carter, grandchildren, Susan Hu Randy Carter, Debbie Kreidler, Terri Binder, Jerry Carter, Jordan Strickland, Paul Choin andski Elisa Price; and 10 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be Sunday, November 19, 2006 from 1:30 until 4:30 p.m. at Heritage Memory Mortuary, 131 Grove Ave., Prescott, Ariz. A memorial service will be Monday, November 20, 2006 at 1:30 p.m. the Prescott Church of the Nazarene. In lieu of flowers please make contributions to Prescott Christian School Scholarship Foundation at P.O. Box 10502, Prescott, Arizona or to Native American Ministries, Inc., Sun Valley Indian School at P.O. Box 86029. All donations are tax deductible. Services entrusted to Heritage Memory Mortuary. Information provided by survivors.