John Arthur Carter

December 29, 2017

Obituary

Passed peacefully away on Dec 29th in St. John’s after a brief illness, John Carter, age 84 years. Predeceased by his parents, Alan and Eda (nee Pittman); his sisters Margaret Halleran and Elizabeth Gibson. Leaving to mourn his wife Brenda (nee Murphy); sons Ian (Daphne), Jeremy (Leisha); daughter Alison (Geoff); 6 grandchildren, Jessica, Havelah, Angus, Genevieve, Linus and Sandy; sister in law Elizabeth Murphy; also a number of other relatives and friends. John was the founder of Mt Scio Savoury Farm and served as Minister of Education (1972) and MHA for St John’s North (1971-89). A special thank you to all the staff at the Health Sciences Center Cardio Vascular ICU. The family will be accepting visitors at Carnell’s Funeral Home, 329 Freshwater Road, on Wednesday January 3, 2018 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A memorial service will be held at the Carnell Memorial Chapel on Thursday January 4 at 2:00 p.m. Per John’s request, donations in his memory may be made to Lakecrest Independent School, Patrick St. St. John’s (www.lakecrest.ca).

Schedule

Visitations

2-4 p.m. on January 3, 2018

7-9 p.m. on January 3, 2018

Carnell’s Funeral Home
329 Freshwater Road
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funeral

2:00pm, Thursday January 4th

The Carnell Memorial Chapel
329 Freshwater Road
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Condolences

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Brenda
Just today I learned of John’s passing, please accept my heartfelt sympathy.
It was just last year I visited John at his farm on Mt. Scio Rd., our first get together after approximately 40 years, it was so good to reminisce.
John was a super guy, very thoughtful and considerate of everybody.
I think at one time he employed all the youth from Mt. Scio Rd. and the surrounding area..
I don’t know if you remember but John was the emcee of our wedding.
God Bless, may he rest in peace..

Brenda and family. Mom and i and our family are so sorry to hear that John has passed. What an absolutely, dear sweet man he was. He was so adored by so many people, what a loose , he will be missed by many. Mom has some fine memories of happy times spent at your home. Each Christmas in our mailbox there was always a gift of savory w a red ribbon attached. Wishing you all strength to get through this sad sad time. Our thoughts are with you.
Libby Hogan, daughter Andrea Wells, and Libby’s 2 other daughters, Patty, Bobbie, and Libby’s sons John and Stuart

Ian, Jeremy and family. I just heard about the passing of your Dad So sorry to hear. Our condolences to you all as our thoughts are with you

My condolences Brenda to you and your Family. I recollect how John kindly donated the church flowers for my daughter’s wedding many years ago.He was a student of mine at Mun. and you were a fellow student at Sherriff Hall also many years ago. Audrey Ralph Lee

Mrs. Carter, Alison, Ian, Jeremy and families,
Sorry to hear of Mr. Carter’s passing. Even though it’s been a long time, and I was a teenager at the time, I still remember him as a person of intellect and thought; one to whom even a young person could relate. One time I will never forget occurred at the farmhouse where somehow a Russian chess player ended up. He was playing several people at once, all the while drinking Mr. Carter’s liquor and smoking cigarettes. Your father must have understood the language as he was able to explain to me how the man’s coach, and his wife, would see it in his play if daily training was missed. Just one of a few conversations I remember. A remarkable man. My deepest sympathies.

Ron LeDrew

Dear Brenda and members of the Carter family,
We were very saddened to know of John’s passing.
We will miss him and miss his many philanthropic acts , especially towards all the students at Lakecrest.
Our children still remember fondly Farm Day at Mount Scio where John never tired of giving the children tractor rides.
With our deepest Sympathy,
Angela (Byrde), Majed , Sarah and Zayd Khraishi

Brenda and family. Newfoundland has lost a great man with the passing of John. You have my deepest sympathy. John will be remembered for all the acts of kindness he passed on to people. Diane sat next to John enroute to England and claimed the trip went by so fast as John told her his stories.

We are very sorry to hear of Mr. Carter’s passing. Our sincere condolences to his whole family. I so enjoyed our chats when I stopped into the farm shop. I will miss him and miss seeing him driving down Mt. Scio in his van.

Deepest sympathy. Roger Fitzgerald

Brenda and family.
Our deepest condolences to you and your family. Mr. Carter was a wonderfull man, friendly, funny and sweet. My favorite client while working at CIBC. May he rest in peace.
Wanda and Victor Cole

Brenda and family
So sorry to learn of John’s passing. What a wonderful and kind man. We send our deepest sympathy at this sad time for you and your family
Sincerely

My sincere condolences to the Carter family. I came to know Mr. Carter as his neighbor for 13 years with our property at the end of his on Mount Scio. He was such a sweet and kind man with a wealth of knowledge that he was always willing to share, as well as his many stories of times past. Always willing to help out however he could with various projects and as we built our new home, from letting us transplant trees from his property to borrowing his new tractor, and of course getting his ride on mower in wherever he could to keep the grass perfectly manicured…. just the way he liked it. He fed a family of crows and they would recognize his van, and as he drove up the road they would fly along side him.
Such fond memories. Such a great loss to his family and the community. Rest in peace Mr. Carter.

Brenda and family. We were saddened to hear of John’s passing. Please accept our deepest condolences.
Ed and Pat Porter

Brenda and family, please accept our sincere condolences.
Leo Barry and Jan Peters.

There is an empty spot in every place where John should be – smiling and telling a story. Like the time of his running away from his Aunties and hiding under our kitchen table to the time he poured a jug of cold water on me while hiding up a tree and I threw a rock and hit him in the head! He has been a lifelong friend of my family, the McDonald’s of Mt Scio Road. We have known John since he was 4 or 5 years of age. He was like a 7th child to my mother, Annie McDonald, and great friends with my entire family Frank, Florence, Gus, Joan, and Derm.

It is difficult to think we will not see John and feel the delight that a visit with him always provided. We have lost a nice man and a great friend. Although the world now has less to smile about, heaven is a grander place.

I am very sorry to hear of John’s passing! He was a great man, in many ways; with a kind heart, a great intellect and a wonderful sense of humor! He enriched the lives of all those he came in contact with! I speak for many people, when I say he will be very greatly missed!

I’m greatly saddened by this news. John was always a gentle giant and a great family friend. Walks in the woods at Mount Scio, where he always welcomed my little family with a huge grin, iwill always be some of my favourite memories.
Taking my small sons on impromptu rides around the farm on his tractor and allowing me to house my pet ducks there, too, as well as encouraging my husband to fish in the ponds, are just a few of the things that made John so special to us. He was a good friend to my parents, as well.
I will miss him.
Truly heartfelt condolences to your family.
Kate Hoffe (nee Tomlinson)

So sad to hear of your father’s passing. He was a great man and Newfoundlander, and raised a wonderful family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you in this difficult time. God bless.

To the carter family,
Sorry to hear of your dads passing, please accept our deepest sympathies,.
Gearld Haines

To all John’s Family,
We thank God for the presence of John Carter and his family in our lives. As the eldest daughter of Gus McDonald (who was a close neighbor of the Carters) we were the frequent recipients of John’s visits and kind generosity. As a young girl I particularly remember him visiting my grandmother, Annie McDonald. He was like a giant to me as I watched him bend low to come through the kitchen door. He always had something in his hands for her and a word of encouragement. He was my father’s frequent companion in ploughing and harvesting the fields on our family farm. He was the embodiment of the scripture ” love your neighbour as yourself” Mark 12:31
We know that this sunset on earth is a sunrise in heaven.
Bless you all as you greive his passing and celebrate his life.

Ian and families,
Sincere condolences on your father’s passing.
Please accept our deepest sympathies, from all the Greene family.
Joe.

Dear Carter family
I met Mr Carter through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program quite a few years ago.
It was always such a pleasure to have a chat with him.
I couldn’t imagine when I saw him a few months ago, that would be last time I’d get to see Mr Carter.
I feel sad to think that, I can’t imagine what it is like for you, his family.
I hope it gives you some comfort knowing how many people he affected in such a wonderful way.
Thank you, Mr Carter for allowing me to be one of those people.
My prayers are with your family.

My heart goes out to you on the passing of such a wonderful man

I am so very sorry that he is gone. He is the first cousin of my late mother and she and my siblings very were very fond of him. He was such an endearing man and he had a brilliant sense of humour.

He was a great story teller. I traveled with him to China along with a group of politicians and business people. Our gracious hosts had to speak to us in English. Somehow John managed to convince one of our hosts to translate a short speech thanking our hosts from English to Mandarin. He then convinced this host to coach him in making the speech in Mandarin. When he delivered the speech our host group was astonished and were very touched. They told us that his pronunciation was very good. There are many many more stories like this one.

John taught himself Russian by talking to sailors from Russian ships docked in St. John’s harbour. He loved to tell the story of how the Russians described their great Soviet hero, Vladamir Lenin. With a straight face and a twinkle in his eye he responded by saying that Newfoundland had such a great man. His name was Harry Hibbs.

I always thought that I would see John at least one more time. I am very sad that this is no longer possible.

As it turns out he is the last of a generation of cousins born to four remarkable sisters who started life in Tilt Cove, the daughters of the Reverend Arthur Pittman and Clementine Lethbridge.

John, it grieves me that I will never hear you tell another story. To Ian, Jeremy, Alison, and Brenda I would like to say that your father/husband lives on in my memory. I am so sorry for your loss. I am sorry for our loss.

Condolences seem so inadequate but you have mine.

Your cousin
Philip De Groot.

Ian, Jeremy and Family…..so very sorry for your loss…. please accept my sincere condolences and know you are all in my thoughts and prayers as you navigate this sad time….your Dad was a god man…I remember him fondly as my 1st employer….RIP Mr. Carter…

Jeremy and family. I am so sorry to hear of your Dads passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.
Sincerely,
Dianne

Dear Brenda and family,
I have very pleasant memories of John and his manner to easily smile and laugh. He was a kind and loving man and I am so sorry he has passed on.
On Saturday I was using savoury in my dish and it reminded me of my wonderful visit to your home.
I am truly sorry for your loss and may he rest in peace.

Brenda and family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you on the passing of John. I worked for him for many years. He was a kind and true gentleman.
May he rest in peace.
Frances Kenny

Brenda and Family:

I served with John in the House of Assembly. Truly an honest and independent soul. While minister of Education he flew and drove to Nippar’s Harbour concerning a school problem I was having as MHA.

I most appreciated his independent thought.

A. Brian Perckford

A. Brian Peckford

Brenda and Family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. Treasure the memories you have made over the years. May he rest in peace.

I’m so sorry for your loss,

So sorry to hear of Mr Carters passing. What an incredible memorable huge person. Literally. He was a friend of my mother’s and her family (Lola [Burgess]Efford)over the years. She’s gone almost 20 years, but I certainly remember very clearly and fondly her talking about him. All that he did for many including us. I really looked forward to finding a savoury packet in or mailbox from time to time…especially at Christmas. My deepest condolences to you all.

Brenda,
So sorry to read of the recent passing of your husband. My sincere condolences to you and your family.

So grateful for the mark your dad has made on this community…

As a grad student working for my brother at his newly established Georgestown bakery years ago, I enjoyed John’s everyday visit. He was always the first customer every day to drop in to check on how things were going….

He will be missed.

Leah L.

So sorry for your loss. Memories will live on and love will always be remembered.

Mr Clifton Halliday Sr. And family offer their condolences and sympathy on the passing of John Carter. A great neighbor and business man. Fond memories. Cliff Halliday and Family.

The Carter Family
My sincere condolences to your family at this sad time. Growing up on Mount Scio Road next door to the farm I have many memories of John , always a very kind soul.
My thoughts & prayers are with you all.

I would like to take this opportunity to offer my condolences to the Carter family. Growing up on mt. Scio road myself the farm was a big part of growing up. John would hire on most of the young fellows every year. Heart of gold. He is with the angels now.

Rest in peace John. It was truly a pleasure and a privilege to work with you. Sincere sympathy to the Carter family.

The ultimate free thinker and proponent of free thinking. What a Dad.

Love to all Carters.

I am saddened to hear of John’s passing but glad to have had the opportunity to know him. So sorry that I can’t be there.

Mrs. Carter, Ian, Jeremy, Alison and family,

My heartfelt condolences to you all on this very sad occasion. I had many a great chat with Mr. Carter about politics and city issues. He had such an incredible impact on our city and I am grateful for his contributions.
May he rest In peace.

Kind regards,
Sheilagh O’Leary

Ban and I send our thoughts to all of you and wish that we could be there with you. We will very much miss John’s friendship and his stories.

Lynda Younghusband

Mrs.Carter , Ian , Jeremy, Alison and family,
My mom, Violet (Derm, deceased) McDonald and our family are saddened by the sudden passing of John. We , living directly across the street on Mt.Scioo Road , have numerous stories and fond memories of you and your family. The many visits to each other’s homes and many gifts of savory to which we reciprocated with vegetables!! Please accept our sincere condolences , you’re in our thoughts , prayers and memories .
RIP John, fly high on the angels wings . Your passing is a true loss to our McDonald , Power families .

Staff and students at Lakecrest School are deeply saddened by the news of Mr. Carter’s passing. We would like to offer sincere condolences to the Carter family at this difficult time.
We will remember Mr. Carter for his wonderful work as a founding member of Lakecrest school. His generosity and contribution to learning was unending and our students and teachers will greatly miss visiting Mr. Carter during annual visits to Mt Scio Farm. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Carter family today and in the coming months.

Please accept my sincerest condolences. I was Mr. Carter’s Secretary at Government Members Office in the early 1980’s. He was a very dedicated and down to earth politician. I especially loved having package of savory with a big red bow left on my desk each Christmas. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

To the Carter family my condolences to you all . I had the pleasure of speaking with John several times over this past season while on patrol . He will be missed . From myself and the Lane family .

So sorry to hear of your loss. Our deepest condolences and love from afar.
Naomi and Casandra Johnson, and Nicholas Morris-Bigley

Dear members of the Carter family: We send you our sincerest condolences as we remember a life well lived. We fondly remember our many visits to lovely Mount Scio Farm.

Requiescat in Pace.

Peter and Hilary Neary

Dear members of the Carter family: We send you our sincerest condolences as we remember a life of accomplishment and goodwill. We fondly remember our many visits to lovely Mount Scio Farm.

Requiescat in Pace.

Peter and Hilary Neary
London, Ontario

Mrs Carter and family:
So sorry to hear of John’s passing, we have many fond memories of him growing up on Mt Scio Rd./Nagles Hill.
Our sincere condolences.

Mrs Carter, Ian, Jeremy, Alison and family, I was so saddened to hear of Mr. Carter’s passing. I have such warm memories of John’s warmth, humour and kindness. He was a dear friend to my father and uncle and will be very missed. With deepest sympathy, Renée Neary, Chicago.

Brenda, Ian, Jeremy, Alison and Families, So very sorry to hear of John’s passing. Our deepest sympathies are with you all.

So sorry for your loss. Thoughts are with you all.
Regards, amargaret Ann McCarthy

John’s family
For a good many years several of us gathered on a regular basis each week with John . On these occasions there was much discussed and no topic or subject was off limits.
Frequently those assembled were treated to the charm and wit of our friend John .
He had a tremendous sense of humour .
He was not reticent in offering his opinion and he surely gave as well as he took .
He took,a great interest in the political affairs of the Province .
He was an entrepreneur – benefactor – and in his day and generation made a difference to many.
We will miss him but are thankful for our times with him.
May his eternal rest be in peace.
Sincere condolences to all to whom he was endeared.

My Deepest Condolences Ian. Sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you and your family.

Regards
Carlos

To Brenda and family, it is with great sadness on hearing of John’s sudden passing, Bridie and I have so many wonderful memories sharing almost twenty years of wine tasting and dinner’s with John and the gang of seven. Again our condolences to you and your entire family, Newfoundland has lost a great Newfoundlander. R.I.P. our dear friend.

To Brenda and family, it is with great sadness on hearing of John’s sudden passing, Bridie and I have so many wonderful memories sharing almost twenty years of wine tasting and dinner’s with John and the gang of seven. Our deepest condolences to you and your entire family, Newfoundland has lost a great Newfoundlander. R.I.P. our dear friend.