Lonnie Rex Carter 1941-2020

Lonnie Rex Carter passed away peacefully at his home on Oct. 28, 2020, after losing his battle with COPD and other complications at the age of 78.

He was born on Nov. 14, 1941, in the Green bottoms near McFall to Frank Pierce and Lois Pauline (Mooney) Carter. He grew up on his parent’s farm north of McFall. He attended school in McFall until McFall consolidated with Pattonsburg. He graduated in 1959. Then he attended a railroad school before enlisting in the Army.

After basic training and another school, he was transferred to Germany for almost two years. He really enjoyed Germany and toured most of Europe. He told his family that he worked in a classified message center. When he arrived each morning for duty, they locked him inside. His family thought that was a great idea!

After his discharge from the Army he worked in Kansas City for a railroad, but he didn’t like working for them. Then he was a warehouse manager before joining the North Kansas City Police Department. He served several years on the force attaining the rank of sergeant.

On May 3, 1964, Lonnie married Betty L Newby in Kansas City. They had three children: Sandra, Cynthia, and Christopher.

Raising three children on a policeman’s salary was tough. Lonnie changed his occupation to truck driver, transporting new cars from the manufacturer to the dealer. He transferred to Oklahoma and worked there until he retired 30 plus years later.

He married Christine (Ancona) Middleton. Their children were: Frank Kearney, Michael Kearney, James Carter, and Clinton Carter.

He married Merry Annette Riddle on March 18, 1982, in Grayson, TX. Their children were: Larry “Butch” Mitchell and Jennifer Mitchell.

Lonnie was an avid horseman and aviator. He was instrument qualified, multi-engine qualified, and owned his own plane. He was a reserve deputy sheriff in Oklahoma and would use his plane to fly search operations for the sheriff’s department. He owned and trained mules to pull his wagon on long treks in a wagon train. He was a team roper and entered a lot of contests and actually won a couple or more.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Merry; his parents, Frank and Lois; and his brother, Jimmy.

He is survived by his daughters, Sandra (Gallus), Cynthia “Cindy” (Jones), Jennifer Carter; sons, Christopher, Frank Kearney, Michael Kearney, James, Clinton, Butch Mitchell; 19 grandchildren; sister, Juanita Wilcox, TN; brothers, Earl (Jo Ann), McFall, Larry (Mary), Pattonsburg, and Sam (Janet), Stewartsville, and many nieces and nephews who all loved him.

Lonnie was gruff acting, but a pushover whenever one was in need. He will be missed by a ton of friends and relatives.

Funeral Services with Military Rites was held at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 2, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Gallatin, under the direction of Roberson Funeral Home, Pattonsburg. Masks will be required in the church. Inurnment will be held at a later date in McFall Cemetery. The family received friends from 4-6 p.m. Sunday at Roberson Funeral Home, Pattonsburg, where social distancing was observed, and masks are recommended. Memorials may be made to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 152, Pattonsburg, MO 64670. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com