Shirley Rae Carter went to her heavenly home on October 8, 2025. She was born and raised in Jackson, Michigan, and graduated from Parkside High School in 1971. She came to Marion in the fall of 1971 to attend Marion College, now known as IWU. She attended there for two years then started working at the Tri-Lon, which became Good Time Charlie’s. She worked there for several years before buying it and owning it for several more years. She also worked and co-owned both Malones and The Hop. After selling the businesses, she took two years off and then started working as the supervisor of the cafeteria at Riverview School, retiring in 2020 after 20 years of service. She also worked at Applebee’s while working at Riverview. She worked summers at Audie’s Restaurant in Mackinaw City, Michigan. She was a hard worker and trained several people along the way.
She loved to travel to new places and enjoyed a lake house she owned in Northern Michigan with her twin sister, Sharon. It was bought so the entire family and friends could enjoy a place to go and have fun and where many beautiful memories were made. She had a wonderful birthday this year turning 72 up at the lake house. With everyone’s schedules being as they were, it worked out that the entire family was able to gather with us, all knowing this would most likely be the last birthday she would have. She had a great time, and many memories of times at the lake house were shared. She also enjoyed going to Florida with her sisters in the winter for many years, where she and her sisters enjoyed playing mini golf. She also enjoyed sewing. She made several things for her family and friends. She also sewed many smocks/scrubs for herself and her co-workers while working at Riverview. She was the social one in the family. She enjoyed meeting new people and making new friends. When you were a friend, you were a friend for life no matter what. She was loved by many, many people. She touched the lives of all those who came in contact with her throughout her life and throughout her illness.
She attended Central Wesleyan Church in Jackson, Michigan, and College Wesleyan Church here in Marion. She enjoyed good old, southern gospel music, especially the Gaither Vocal Band and the many people who sang with them.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Duane and Wilma (Harris) Carter; sister, Jan Carter; and nephew, Luke Roberts.
She will be very much missed by her family and friends. She is survived by her twin sister, Sharon (Reid) Barton; sister, Joyce (Ron) Roberts Truman; sister in love, Wendy Osinski; nieces and nephews, Cody Carter McCullough, Kayla McCullough, Carey McCullough, Lynelle Roberts, and Lance Roberts; niece-in-law, Alexandra Wisselman Roberts; aunts, Joan DeBruler, Jean Brockway, and Joyce Harris; many cousins; and special family friends, Scott, Julie, and Michael Krebill, as well as Ray, Judy, and Michelle Johnson.
The family will receive visitors from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Sunday, October 12, 2025, at Needham-Storey-Wampner Funeral & Cremation Service, North Chapel, 1341 N. Baldwin Ave., Marion, IN.
Immediately following the time of visitation, a service to celebrate Shirley’s life will begin at 4:00 pm. Visitation will take place at Roseland Memorial Gardens in Jackson, Michigan, at 1:00 pm on Monday, October 13, 2025, with a short service at 1:30 pm in the chapel. Pastor Michael Krebill will be officiating at both services.
The family would like to extend many thanks to the staff at Colonial Oaks for their kind, caring, and compassionate care of Shirley in her last days. We would also like to thank Dr. Sarah Goodrich and oncology staff at St. Vincent Hospital, Dr. Vudukuri and oncology staff at Fort Wayne Lutheran Hospital, staff at Florida Cancer Center in Davenport, Florida, Dr. Dorum and staff at Marion Wound Clinic, Heart to Heart Hospice, and the staff in the ER and hospital at Marion Health. There wasn’t a person who came in contact with Shirley that didn’t admire her spirit and her desire to live despite the condition she was in. Through her years of great discomfort, she didn’t complain. She was an inspiration to those who knew her.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959 or Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2211 N. Oak Park Ave., Chicago, IL 60707.
Memories may be shared online at www.nswcares.com.
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