Published in the December 11, 2018 edition.
ROCKPORT — James S. Carter Sr., 91, of Rockport, husband of Ruth T. (Schefisch) Carter passed away on Friday morning, December 7, 2018 due to complications from the flu, surrounded by loved ones.
He was born in Melrose on
November 16, 1927, son of the late Maurice and Martha (Dugan) Carter.
Jim grew up in Wakefield and was a graduate of Wakefield High School class of 1946. He worked on the Gloucester waterfront and then joined the United States Coast Guard having proudly served three years during the Korean War. After the war, he worked for H.P. Hood then Sears for over 30 years as a mechanical engineer at the Saugus, Natick and Peabody stores. Jim’s lifelong love for the ocean and boating brought the family to Rockport in 1978 where he started lobstering on his boat Windrift until he was 85 and made many good friends at Granite Pier along the way. Jim was also a very handy craftsman, he loved making clocks, half hulls, replicas of his boat Windrift, furniture, and toys for his children and grandchildren to treasure forever.
Jim is survived by his wife Ruth of 63 years; his children Martha Wiberg of Gloucester, Theresa (Rob) McClurg of Carmel, Calif., James S. Carter, Jr. (Gloria) of Rumford, Maine, Elena (Butch) MacArthur of Rockport.
He was especially proud of his seven grandchildren, Toby (Jess) Wiberg of Rockport, Kelly Doyle of Denver, Colo., Alison (Mark) Combs of Angier, N.C., Ethan (Ashley) Carter of Epping, N.H., Paige Carter of Rumford, Maine, Phillip MacArthur of Boston and Heather MacArthur of Rockport and two great-grandchildren Trey Wiberg of Rockport and Riley Carter of Epping, N.H.
Jim is also survived by his sister Martha (Kevin) Smith of Lancaster, Mass., Chris Wiberg of Rockport, Gary Linder of Gloucester, his cat Lily and many nieces and nephews.
Jim was predeceased by his brothers Maurice Carter, of Hingham, William Carter of Lancaster, Pa. and his lifelong friend Henry Morgan, Jr. of Gloucester.
His funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Joachim’s Church, Rockport on Friday, December 14, at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited. The burial will be held in Locust Grove Cemetery, Gloucester.
Arrangements by the Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington Street, Gloucester. For online condolences, please visit www.greelyfuneralhome.com
