Frederick Carter

Well-known El Paso artist, Frederick Carter, peacefully entered heaven on May 29th, after a lengthy illness. In his final days, Fred was surrounded by his family and friends. Fred was born in Galveston in 1925 and grew up on the Texas Gulf Coast. Over the years, he regaled his family with tales of his adventures in Galveston and on Dickinson Bayou. After attending Texas A&M, he joined the Navy and served during World War II. After the war, he completed art school in New York and ultimately settled in El Paso, where he met his lovely wife, Dottie. The sunshine of the desert southwest inspired a long and productive artistic career. His talent earned him many honors through the years, culminating in his selection as the Texas State Artist in 1995. From the cotton fields of the Upper Valley, to Mt. Cristo Rey, to the Sunset Grocery and the Union Depot, to the International Bridge and the historic missions of the Lower Valley, the color and whimsy of his artwork provides his family, friends, and countless El Pasoans with an eternal gift of joy and happiness. Local authors Frank Mangan and Leon Metz sought Fred out to add color to their literary works on El Paso history. His life on the Gulf Coast and his service in the Navy inspired his hobbies of saltwater fishing and building model ships. Even after settling in the desert southwest, he made regular treks to the Gulf Coast on his hunt for spotted redfish and speckled trout. His interest in history and his artistic talent inspired the creation of a magnificent collection of model ships that he built from the ground up with the most authentic and intricate of detail. His family and friends were blessed over the years with his artistic flair, as birthday and holiday greetings always contained a personalized drawing and greeting to honor the occasion. Although he will be missed, his artistic gifts and inspiration will live on for generations to come. Fred leaves behind his devoted wife of 50 years, Dottie; daughters, Sharon Carter and Susan Sharp; son-in-law, David Sharp; and granddaughter, Elise Rage, all of whom have been blessed to experience the fruits of his creativity and humor that he shared with his family and friends through the years, even until the end. Special thanks to CIMA Hospice and Maggie Esparza. Services will be held Friday, June 4th at 7:00 p.m. at Peace Lutheran Church, 1699 Belvidere Street, El Paso, Texas 79912. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to CIMA Hospice, 6090 Surety Drive, Suite 102, El Paso, Texas 79905.