Loretta M. Carter

1933 – 2016

Loretta passed away on April 5, 2016, at Home Place in Oak Harbor, at the age of 82.

She was born on June 17, 1933, to Frank and Lena Driscoll in Mutiny Bay (Austin).

She was raised on the beach at Mutiny Bay along with all of her brothers and sisters, Irene, Frank, Ed, Sis (Evelyn), Rose, Gert and Chuck. She attended Mutiny Bay School, then attended Langley School, graduated, and married Fred Neil in 1951.

They had four children – Debbie, Alan, DeeDee and Donny. In 1964, she started to work for the Langley State Bank as a customer service representative and teller, then went on to Peoples Bank in Langley. She then worked for South Whidbey School District in the payroll department and retired from there in 1994.

She married Lloyd Carter in 1971 and had 44 wonderful years traveling and partying with good friends and family. Family was very important to her. She was the party planner for the whole family. Every Fourth of July was the big get-together at her and Lloyd’s home on Sunlight Beach. Lloyd always made sure there were enough crab and clams to feed 2,000 people!

Loretta was quite the crafter in her day. Weaving baskets, making wedding albums and weaving lawn chairs were a few of the things she enjoyed creating.

She will be deeply missed. She passed peacefully with loving family at her side. We will all miss her wonderful smile.

Loretta is preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Frank and Ed; and her sisters, Sis (Evelyn) and Rose.

She is survived by her loving husband Lloyd; her sisters, Irene and Gert; her brother Chuck; children, Debbie Neil, Alan Neil, DeeDee Curtis, Donny Neil, Lynn (Steve) Avery and Steve (Cheri) Carter; 17 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland. She will be interred at Bayview Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland.