Rada Mae Carrigan Carter was born in Elkins, Arkansas on January 9, 1922. She left her earthly home for her home in heaven on September 20, 2021. She was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church and of the Elkins Methodist Church since 1945.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Jack B. Carter; her parents, Ezra and Fannie Harris Carrigan; brothers Arlie, James and Benjamin, and sisters Irene, Millie, Jean and Nell; brother-in-law James K. Carter and wife Louise.

She is survived by sons John Samuel of Mooresville, NC, James Ernest of Springdale AR, daughter Jean Anita and husband David Hammack of Elkins, and grandsons Jack, Henry and Sam Sallee of Elkins; her loving nieces and nephews: Mike Tillery and family, Dr. Bob Wentz and family, the McGowan family, Jo Wilson and family, Sandra Kay Hart and family, Terry Greenquist and family, Jo and Wally Martinez, and Sue Carter.

Rada Mae was a woman of strong faith and often recounted the story of being left on the back pew at Elkins Community Church overnight when she was only 3 years old. She loved the church and taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School there for many years. Her favorite Bible verse was Psalm 118:24: “This is the day which the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!”

She was a graduate of Elkins High School, class of 1938, and many stories have been told recounting the adventures of her senior class trip. She and her classmates rode in the back of a truck all the way to the Grand Canyon and back. Rada Mae loved to learn and instilled that love of learning in her children, grandchildren and other family members.  She taught in a one room school in Whitehouse after receiving her teaching credentials and attended William Jewell College in Missouri for a time. Rada Mae also took correspondence courses at the University of Arkansas for many years.

A former WAVE, Rada Mae served in the US Navy during World War II as a link trainer instructor, teaching the flyboys how to navigate using the instrument panel. She worked as a telephone operator for a time as well. She was a clerk at the post office for 34 years, mainly in Elkins, where she served the public alongside her husband, Jack, who was the Elkins Postmaster.  She said, “I knew and loved everybody in Elkins.”

Rada was a champion for the rights of women and children. Her bumper sticker read: “A woman’s place is in the house and The Senate.” She volunteered for SCAN, an organization that works with families in cases of suspected child abuse and neglect and positively impacted the lives of many in our community.

A private memorial service will be held for Mrs. Carter at a later date. Donations in her memory can be made to the Elkins Community Church, the Elkins Alumni Association, the Elkins Senior Center or the Elkins Library.