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CARTER, REVEREND DR. R. BOYD - Minister Emeritus of the United Church, Chapel on the Hill in Oak Ridge, TN died peacefully at home Tuesday, November 12, 2013, after a very brief illness. Dr. Carter was born in St. Louis, Missouri on June 15, 1940, to Marjorie and Fredric Carter. He was predeceased by his parents and brother, Dale Carter. He is survived by his wife, Susan; brother, Glen and wife Pamela Carter of Mattoon, Illinois; son, Richard and wife Yvonne of Jacksonville, Florida; step-daughters and husbands, Elizabeth Paige and Perry Brooks of Bend, Oregon and Amy Paige and Tim Callahan of Seattle, Washington; as well as two grandchildren; and eight step-grandchildren. Dr. Carter came to the United Church in 1984 with 25 years of experience ministering to both Methodist and Continuing Congregational Churches in a number of states the mid-west. He claimed to have been drawn to the Chapel on the Hill by an advertisement seeking a "liberal minded" minister to fill a position in a historical church in Oak Ridge. According to Dr. Carter, "I never expected to make a 23 year career here in Oak Ridge". He attested that the wonderful people and vast experiences he encountered have made the time seemingly fly by. During this tenure of almost 24 years with the Chapel on the Hill, Rev. Carter estimated that he has performed approximately 1,000 weddings, 150 to 160 funerals and prepared and delivered over 1,100 sermons. When asked what he hopes people in his church will remember most about him, Dr. Carter responded, "I feel, and hope others feel, as though I always treated people fairly and justly and never told anyone what to believe." Some of Dr. Carter's favorite memories of Chapel on the Hill revolved around the special times of Christmas Eve, when the church grounds were aglow from the soft light of hundreds of hand made luminaries, and Thanksgiving when he performed a tailored-made Pilgrim day service. Times of celebratory fellowship and gathering as a community of faith over a meal, were also focal points of his time spent with the church congregation. He served on many community boards and committees. They include the Board of Directors of Ridgeview Psychiatric Hospital; the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce; at different times, both Rotary Clubs; the community Foundation, where he was president for several years; the Board of the Housing Development Corporation of Clinch Valley; the Executive Advisory Board of the Oak Ridge Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals; Board for Symposium for Advancement of Family Therapy. During the mid-80's he was chosen to participate in one of the first classes of the Leadership Oak Ridge. He was involved in the process of bringing the Friendship Bell in Bissell Park to Oak Ridge. He was awarded the prestigious, "2008 Executive of the Year", by the Oak Ridge Chapter of the IAAP. Arrangements for a Celebration Memorial Service are pending for December 7th at the United Church Chapel on the Hill. Jackson Funeral Services in Oak Ridge is honored to serve the Carter family. We invite you to share your thoughts and memories with the family at jacksonfuneralservices.com
Published in Knoxville News Sentinel on Nov. 15, 2013
