Maude Carter

Maude Russell Bowen Carter passed away peacefully on Saturday, the 8th of February 2014, in Houston, Texas. She had suffered from Alzheimer's for quite some time. Maude was born on the 21st of May 1927 in Houston, to Royden Burwell Bowen and Sara Kane Bowen. The youngest of four children, Maude grew up in Houston and attended River Oaks Elementary, The Kinkaid School and graduated from the Holton-Arms School in Bethesda, Maryland. She studied art at the Parsons School of Design in New York City and then returned home to attend the University of Texas. As a child, Maude loved camping in the Texas Hill Country with her family, as well as riding her pony through the "woods" of River Oaks west of Mockingbird Lane. In her later years, she often spoke fondly of those special childhood memories. Maude married her childhood sweetheart, Thomas Leachman Carter, in Houston in 1948. They lived in Austin briefly, and then moved to Camden, Texas where T.L. helped run the family lumber business, W. T. Carter and Bro. Maude was intent on improving the community in the town of Camden. She established a well-baby clinic, two libraries and helped improve the elementary school. Maude delighted in riding her horse, Arrow, through the lush piney woods of East Texas. She and T.L. raised their six children in Camden and Houston. Maude volunteered her time and talent to the Junior League of Houston where she loved working in The Children's Theater. She was also an active member of the River Oaks Garden Club. The family enjoyed spending their summers in Camden horseback riding, swimming and playing on the Hardwood pond with all of their cousins.
In 1973, Maude moved to Uvalde, Texas where she ran a successful cattle ranching operation for ten years and delved into thoroughbred horseracing adventures. Also a talented artist, Maude was sought after for her beautiful portraits. After 17 years, she returned to Houston to spend more time with her children and grandchildren. Maude set up a studio and taught art for many years until Alzheimer's began to make things difficult for her. Maude Carter was quite a Renaissance woman. She was always on the go, and always looking for the next adventure around every corner. Above all, Maude was a sweet and kind person. She is at peace now, and will be greatly missed by the many who love her.
Maude was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, Lenoir Bowen Hamman, Royden Burwell Bowen Jr., and William George Bowen. She is survived by her six children and their families; daughter, Maude Lenoir Carter and her fiancé Richard Boyd Parker, her children Ann Carter Trione, Laura Elizabeth Trione and Russell Joseph Trione; son, Thomas Leachman Carter Jr., and his wife Eugenia Graves Carter and their children Fowler Thomas Carter and his wife Lucy Birdwell Carter, Katherine Carter Files and her husband Preston Reilly Files, Georgia Elizabeth Carter and Molly Leachman Carter; son, Aubrey Leon Carter, Ill and his wife Mary Ellen Graf and their children Rhys William Graf Carter and Eleanor Jane Graf Carter; daughter, Marjorie Carter Cain and her husband James Walker Cain, ll and their children Sara Bowen Cain and James Walker Cain, lll; daughter, Sara Catharine Carter and her partner Ralph Martin Manak and her daughter Eloise Carter Walne; daughter, Georgia Russell Carter and her husband John Overton Brown and her children Hannah Louise Herzog, Oliver Thomas Herzog, and Rita Fay Herzog. She is also survived by her four great-grandchildren Laura Eugenia Carter, Fowler Thomas Carter Jr., Elijah Carter Files and Greta Ann Files.
The family would like to express their deepest appreciation to her beloved and irreplaceable friend, Margarita Salazar, and her family as well as her other two faithful caregivers, Carolyn Isaiah and Aynalem Eschete.
The family will gather for a private memorial service at a later date.
In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions in Maude's memory may be directed to the Pin Oak Endowment for Neurosurgery at Texas Children's Hospital, P.O. Box 300630, Suite 5214, Houston, TX 77230; or to the Bayou Bend Gardens Endowment, P.O. Box 6826, Houston, TX 77265-6826.