Kenneth "Ken" Gale Carter

Kenneth (Ken) Gale Carter, age 82, of Paragould, Arkansas passed away, Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center from complications of Alzheimer's and pneumonia. Ken was born in Cardwell, Missouri on May 12, 1939 to Perry and Gladys Carter. He graduated from Cardwell High School and attended Arkansas State, where he was a member of the Indian Marching Band. Ken joined the United States Air Force in 1959 and was honorably discharged after serving four years.

In 1961, Ken married Mae Elizabeth Clark. Ken went to work for the Arkansas Gazette in advertising. Later he went to work for Moss Seed Company, which later became Ring Around Products. In 1975, he went to work for Helena Chemical and Seed as National Seed Sales Manager in Memphis, Tennessee for five years. In 1980, Ken accepted a job with Delta Pine Land Company as plant manager in Harrisburg, Arkansas. In 1984, Ken purchased part ownership in what is known as Carter-Cox Seeds, Inc. and moved to Corning, Arkansas.

Ken was past president of Arkansas Seed Dealers Association, a member of Corning Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, Arkansas Antique Car Club, and Bootheel Antique Car Club. He helped organize the Annual Harvest Festival Antique Car Show in Corning, Arkansas, which has been an annual event for over thirty years.

Ken was an active member of the Corning First United Methodist Church, where he taught an adult Sunday School class, sang in the choir, and was a song leader. He retired in 2000 and moved to Paragould, Arkansas where he was an active member of Shiloh United Methodist Church. Ken taught an adult Sunday school class, sang in the choir and was a song leader.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Perry and Gladys Carter. He is survived by his wife, Mae of sixty one and a half years; one brother-in-law, Lawrence Clark; three nephews, Jay Bourland, Andy Brinkley, and JB Clark III; four nieces, Julia Carnicom, Rhonda Barclay, Elizabeth King, and Angela Petty; and numerous cousins. Ken is also survived by two special granddaughters, Elizabeth and Emily Draper, and their parents, Troy and Sara Draper.

Visitation will be held Saturday, January 8, 2022 from 1:00 - 2:00 pm in the Heath Colonial Chapel. The service will begin at 2:00 pm with Rev. Jerry Pentecost and David Luter officiating. Burial will follow at Shiloh Cemetery.

To leave a lasting memorial, please consider Shiloh United Methodist Church or an organization of the giver's choice.

Due to the increasing number of Covid cases, the family has requested that everyone wear a mask inside of the building.