ROYAL CARTER JR.

ROYAL CARTER JR.

     Royal Carter Jr. passed away Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, at The Estates of Rush City at the age of 96.

     Royal Dore Carter, Jr. was born Nov. 27, 1925, to Royal Dore, Sr. and Ida Mable (Grenn) Carter in Chicago, II. When Royal was small child, his mother passed away. His father later married Ruth Middleton who helped raise Carter in the Chicago area.

     Royal served in World War II in the United States Navy as a naval fighter pilot from Dec. 30, 1942, until Dec. 17, 1946. He was a professional over-the-road trucker for 30-plus years. On Jan. 20, 1970, he married the love of his life, Janice Maren Hancock Burlingame, and together they raised their blended families. In 1974, Royal and Janice moved permanently to the Pine City area where they enjoyed many entrepreneurial endeavors, just to mention a few; tavern owner, house-flipper and a used car dealer.

     In 1997, they moved to Merrillan, WI, where they enjoyed retirement. Royal remained in Merrillan after the Janice’s death Aug. 13, 2004, until January of 2022.

     Royal is survived by his children, Royal (Gail) Carter III of Brookfield, MA, Michelle (Michael) Smetana of Pine City, MN, Marla Parks of Blaine, MN, Burton of Arizona; grandchildren Shannon Carter (Nick) of Pine City, MN, Heather (Shawn) Lochner of Marion, IA, Lonna Carter of Salem, NH, Chynna Carter of Brookfield, MA, Snuffy (Lara) Smetana of Pine City, MN, Amy Jo (Shane) Lines of Pine City, MN, Nicole (Aaron) Meyers of Arlington, MA; great-grandchildren Shane Lochner, Vivienne Mankus, Jacob Carter, Peyton Smetana, Maggie Smetana; and many other relatives and friends.

     Royal was preceded in death by his mother, Ida Carter; father Royal Carter, Sr.; stepmother Ruth Carter; his wife, Janice Carter; sons Ross Carter, Mark Burlingame; son-in-law Duane Parks; grandson David Smith; and infant great-granddaughter Hayden Lines.

     Funeral services for Royal were held at 12 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Merrillan United Methodist Church in Merrillan, Wisconsin. A time of visitation for friends and family was held one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment took place at Oakwood Cemetery in Merrillan.

     Funeral arrangements for Royal Carter, Jr. were entrusted to the: Funeral and Cremation Service of Pine City, Swanson Chapel.