Victor Jack Carter
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Victor Jackson "Jack" Carter was welcomed into the arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on March 11, 2022, at the age of ninety-three. Born in Brownfield, Texas on June 13, 1928, Jack joined the United States Marine Corps at age 17 in June 1945. As a member of the First Marine Recon division, he served in the Pacific area in China. After his honorable discharge from the Marine Corps in October 1946, Jack came home to West Texas, working in the oil field around Levelland and later, in Odessa. In 1948, Jack married Nell Nunley, whom he had known at Levelland High School. Nell had just broken up with her basketball player boyfriend when Jack returned from the Marines. Jack liked to say that he "caught her on the rebound." They reared three children and were married 58 years before Nell passed away in 2006. Jack's work as a roughneck transitioned to working as a salesman for the Odessa branch of B.J. Service Company. His experience selling oilfield tongs provided the confidence to found Carter Tool Company, an Odessa oilfield service company, selling, servicing, and repairing tongs. When he sold Carter Tool, Jack and Nell retired in Seminole, Texas where they divided their time between Gaines County and Allen, Oklahoma raising Santa Gertrudis cattle. They were active members of the West Side Church of Christ in Seminole.
Jack devoted much of his time to studying the Bible and memorizing verses. He owned multiple sets of Bible commentaries. His favorite hobby was following Permian Panther football and for decades travelled across Texas to watch the team. He owned a considerable library of videotapes of their games. He loved to watch old western movies, had a deep fondness for dogs and cats, and for many years enjoyed collecting arrowheads.
Jack was preceded in death by his wife, Nell, and his son, Bruce; parents, Wilburn "Victor" Carter and Vena E. Carter, two brothers and five sisters. Survivors include a sister, Mary A. Jeffcoat of Orem, Utah; two daughters, Suzanne Carter Masters of Dallas, Texas, and Kay Carter Utsinger and husband Kelly of Amarillo, and four grandchildren, Lisa Armstrong and her husband Travis of Odessa, Texas; Monte Masters and his wife Julee of Dallas, Texas; Amy Utsinger Monk and husband Travis of Amarillo; and Emily Utsinger and husband Tyson Wilson of Fritch, Texas, and six great grandchildren, Brance Armstrong and wife Darci of Abilene, Texas; Bailey McHan and husband Hayden of Dallas, Texas; Abbey, Brett, and Chad Masters of Dallas; Addison Wilson of Fritch, Texas. For over a decade, Jack's dearest friend was Gerry Hunt of Seminole who joins the family in mourning Jack's passing.
The family expresses their deepest gratitude to the staff and administration of Ussery-Roan Texas State Veterans Home in Amarillo who were Jack's caregivers for the past 5 years. In lieu of flowers, Jack would have wanted contributions to be made to Eastern European Missions, one of his favorite charities that, among other ministries, provides Bibles and aid to the people of Ukraine. EEM's home office is 777 Lonesome Dove Trail, Hurst, TX 76054.
Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, March 21, 2022 at Westside Church of Christ, 201 NW 23rd, St., Seminole, TX 79360 with interment to follow at the Gaines County Cemetery.