Charles Erwin Carter

Charles Erwin "Charlie" or "Cowboy" Carter, age 79 of LaFayette, went home to be with his Lord and daughter on Wednesday, January 14, 2015. He was born April 29, 1935 in Dalton, Georgia., to Roy Alvin and Noma Mae Turner Carter, moving to Chattanooga six weeks later on the death of his father. He grew up in Chattanooga, attending Jefferson St. Elementary, East Side Jr. High (where he played basketball and was a member of the band), and Chattanooga High School. As a teenager, he worked as a life guard at the Industrial Y.M.C.A. He joined the Navy in 1952, serving 4 yrs. as an airman electrician and crew member on navy jets patrolling the Atlantic Coast from the Carribean to the Artic. Upon Leaving the Navy, he attended Carson Newman College for one semester before going into the retail Business. He was manager of one of the first stores to open in Brainerd Village, and later managed one of the first stores to open in the Walnut Square Mall in Dalton, Ga. After moving to the LaFayette Area, He opened his own business, selling guns and CB radio equipment, but had to close his gun shop due to illness. When he recovered from his illness, he went to work for Harriet-Henderson Mills, from which he retired in 1997. Charles loved to tell stories jokes and make people laugh. He never met a "stranger", and never left them without inviting them to the church he loved, "his" Cowboy Church of LaFayette. He was preceded in death by his father; mother, Noma Mae Carter Dillard; step-father and "Dad" he didn't have to be, Milton B. Dillard; beloved daughter, Lori Robin Carter (Rick) Everette. Cowboy was survived by his loving wife, of 55 yrs., Joyce Ann Leonard Carter; daughters, Joy Lyn Carter (Tony) Hammons of Hopewell, MS and Stacy Elaine Carter Lucio Moreno-Haro of LaFayette; grandchildren, Joshua Carlos Lucio, Hannah Alexis Lucio, Robin Gabrielle Lucio, Angelina Joy Chal Lucio, and Francisco Andres Moreno-Haro all of LaFayette; great grandson, Lucas Isaiah Lucio of Chickamauaga; sisters, Virgina Jo Carter (Mack) Mahan of Chattanooga; Daisy LaDell Carter of LaFayette; brother, Randy Lamar (Irene) Dillard of Grovetown, Ga; several nieces and nephews; and many friends. The funeral service will be held at 12:30 pm on Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at the Cowboy Church of LaFayette, 196 County Line Rd. Rock Spring, Georgia 30739. Interment will follow in the Chattanooga National Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Sunday, all day on Monday and prior to leaving for the church on Tuesday. Arrangements by Wilson Funeral Home-Wallis Stewart Chapel Ringgold, Georgia.