Eual Ernest Carter was born on Nov. 4, 1930, to Ernest and Zelphia (Edwards) Carter. He passed away on Nov. 22, 2021, at the age of 91. Eual went on a blind date with Ladenia McAllister in 1960 and kept the road hot driving from Mountain Grove to Thornfield several days a week. The two were married on June 3, 1961, and they had three daughters. When they got married, they bought the farm they live on today. Eual worked at the grocery stores, Town & Country and Richards Brothers in Mountain Grove and ran his dairy farm. He also farmed with his dad and brother, Edwin. Eual was always a hard worker. He would work day and night and never complain. He enjoyed helping his kids do things. He was always willing to help his neighbors if they needed anything. Eual loved his Canadian Club cigars. Before he quit smoking, he always had one in his mouth. It may not have been lit, but a cigar was typically hanging from his lips. For a long time, his favorite Christmas presents were the boxes of cigars he received from his kids. Eual was a fun spirited, hardworking man. Some of his children’s favorite memories are of riding bikes, playing baseball and badminton with him in the summer. The neighbor kids would join in the fun and they would play until dark. Many times, they would ride bikes to his brother Ed’s house on E Highway. Eual would play horseshoes with Ed, and the kids would ride on to Owens Store. Of course, they had to keep the last part a secret from mom but the bags of candy might have given the secret away! Eual had many stories about racing with his brothers and cousins. One of his favorite stories was telling how he raced someone and he followed him to the square. The man got out and let dad know he was an FBI agent and wanted to know what engine he had under the hood of his car. He would laugh as he told this story. The only time his kids can remember him getting really mad was when the game warden gave him a ticket for fishing on his own property without a license. Eual loved to fish, go grabbing with the fish fry gang, garden and cut wood. He always planted a huge garden. His rows were perfect, and the weeds were few. He had enough produce to fill his children’s freezers and had plenty left to give to his neighbors and friends. One year his children and their spouses got him a wood splitter for Christmas. Oh my, was that a mistake! He filled the holding pen of the old barn with wood. Wood was stacked outside the barn and in numerous other places. Eual continued farming, gardening and was active up into his 80s. He was even playing badminton with the kids and grandkids two days before his first stroke. His determination and work ethic were even more evident after first stroke. Against the odds, for a while, he continued gardening and some farming activities. Eual was saved when he was a teenager and attended Oak Grove Free Will Baptist Church, where he was a deacon. He loved his church family and hardly ever missed a service. He often would have the car backed out of the garage and would be waiting for the family to get in so we could go. We could never be late. He taught each of his daughters how to drive coming home from church. He would scoot over by the door, and we would squeeze behind the wheel. He was there to grab the wheel if we needed him.
Eual was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Zelphia; sisters, Lorrita Smith and Eloise Austin; brother, Delbert Carter; and brother-in-law, Farris Austin. Eual is survived by his wife, Ladenia; his children, Tina and Clint Dill, Donna and Tony Courtney along with Patty and Dr. Michael Ball; his grandchildren, Tabetha Alsup, Larrissa (Zac) Chisum, Amanda (Tyler) Owens, Carter Courtney, and Joe and Emma Ball; his great-grandchildren, Hunter and Orion Garrison, Aspen and Eva Housley, Jackson, Dylan, and Grace Chisum, Aubrey, Tenley, Tindle and Trey Owens; one brother, Edwin (June) Carter; one sister, Janice (Gene) Easterwood; one sister-in-law, Greta Carter; one brother-in-law, Jon Smith; and many nieces and nephews. Visitation for Eual Carter was held Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, from 10-11 a.m. at Oak Grove Free Will Baptist Church, Norwood. Funeral services followed the visitation at 11 a.m., also at the church, with Pastor Jim Hurt and the Rev. Edwin Carter officiating. Song selections were “Beulah Land” sung by Karen and Stephanie Moore and “Amazing Grace/My Chains Are Gone” sung by Jared and Stephanie Moore. Congregational song was “Farther Along.” Joe Ball, Tyler Owens, Carter Courtney, Hunter Garrison, Orion Garrison, Aspen Housley, Emma Ball and Eva Housley served as pallbearers. Jack Barnett, Tommy Owens, Larry Turner, Steve Raney, Basil Carter, Gary Moore, Jared Moore and Edwin Carter served as honorary pallbearers. Burial was in Hillcrest Cemetery under the direction of Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home, Mountain Grove. Memorial contributions may be made to Oak Grove Free Will Baptist Church in care of the funeral home. Online condolences: www.craighurttfuneralhome.com.
