Vera Carter

PORTERVILLE - Graduation Day! November 6, 2011, Vera Bell Phillips Carter completed her courses of study, passed all her final tests, and graduated with honors.

The opening school bell rang on August 18, 1914, in a two-room log cabin in Porterville, Morgan, Utah. She was the first of five children born to Lawrence Carl and Ada Bell Crawford Phillips. She was preceded in death by brothers, Don and Marvin Phillips; sister, Dorothy P. Bennett; and is survived by sister Betty P. Stuart.

As the oldest child her teaching career was off to an early start as each of her siblings arrived. Vera attended school in Porterville and Morgan. She graduated from Morgan High School with honors in 1931 and graduated from Weber College in 1933. After graduation she taught fourth grade at Morgan Elementary School.

Vera was married June 5, 1936, in the Salt Lake Temple to her eternal companion, Wallace Daniel Carter. He preceded her in death in 1995. Five children were blessed to call her mom. Lila Stenberg-Hardy (Val), Phillip W. Carter (Colleen), Cleo Watt (Jim), Myra Evans (Mike), all of Morgan; Rosanne Reeves (Jeff) of Bountiful. She was Grandma Carter to 17 children, great-grandma to 34 more, and great-great-grandmother to five.

Home, family and church service were her first priorities. Teaching the importance of academic learning as well as being of good character and service in the church were required courses in her home. Mom taught her daughters to bake bread in the coal stove, do laundry in a twin-tub Dexter, and sew their own clothes. She taught her son to honor his earthly and Heavenly Fathers.

Vera, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in numerous ward and stake callings over her lifetime. She was Young Ladies MIA and Relief Society President, Sunday School Secretary for over 40 years to 20 different S.S. Superintendents. She was involved with the ward newspaper from its inception in 1977 as typist then editor until last year. She was a dedicated Visiting Teacher and servant.

After family and church her special interests were news and histories. Vera was a correspondent for the Morgan County News, and the Deseret News for fifteen years.

Vera collected histories of about fifty of the families buried in the Porterville Cemetery and put together a book of the history of that cemetery. She also wrote histories of the other cemeteries in Morgan County, East Canyon Dam, Morgan Co. Farm Bureau, and wrote and helped compile personal histories of several family members. She spent many hours researching genealogy and typing family group sheets.

Some of her community service involved 4-H Leader, Fair Worker, Pres. of the Morgan Co. Women's Farm Bureau, Registrar and judge of election, substitute teacher and DUP.

The vegetable garden that was a family mainstay gave way to her flower garden in the last few years. She enjoyed both.

Vera was privileged to witness first-hand the many marvels and discoveries of the last century.

Vera taught her family and those around her by her example to work, to serve and endure to the end.

Tassel turned, diploma in hand, Vera has gone to report to her Creator and share a joyous reunion with loved ones waiting for her there.

The family wishes to extend their love and thanks to the staffs of Family Tree in Morgan and Alpine Hospice for the loving care she received from them.

Family and friends may call at the Walker Mortuary, 45 W. 200 N. Morgan Utah on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011 from 6-8 p.m. and Wednesday from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. prior to services at the Porterville Chapel. Services will be held Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 1 p.m. in the Porterville Chapel, 2700 S. Morgan Valley Drive, Morgan, Utah.

Interment, Porterville Cemetery.