BILLY WESTON CARTER
NATCHITOCHES, LA
Oct. 17, 1937-Oct. 21, 2018
Billy Weston Carter passed away at his home in Natchitoches Oct. 21, 2018, at the age of 81. He was born Oct. 17, 1937, in Winnfield where he lived with his family of six until he left to attend Southwestern University, now the University of Louisiana Lafayette, and University of Texas, Austin. He left the university in 1958 to join the Air Force where he pursued a career as a Veterinary Technician in the USAF Aerospace Medicine program. During his time in the USAF, he notably worked for NASA as a vet technician with the monkeys to be sent into space.
Over the years he proudly worked as a skilled butcher, trained to be a farrier and owned his own cattle company before ultimately retiring after working over 20 years as a warehouse manager in the Oil & Gas industry. A born storyteller and old-fashioned cowboy, he shared endless stories of his love of rodeo and horsemanship, as well as his family history in Winn Parish. He was a loyal friend and loved by many. He never missed a high school reunion including his 62nd Class of 1956 reunion this year. He was an avid hunter and outdoorsman who enjoyed many, many hours spent hunting and fishing with his friends and family, a passion he passed on and shared with his children and grandchildren.
Billy and his wife, Margaret, loved their camping club and world travels. He always said how lucky he was to get to see as much of the world, and accomplish as much as he did; as he had never dreamed of such things as a boy growing up at a rock quarry in Winnfield.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Weston Calvin “Wesley” Carter and Virgie Weeks Carter and his sister, Jimmie Aliene Carter of Winnfield.
He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Margaret Taylor Wheat Carter; his daughters, Lisa Carter Day (Nick) of Lafayette and Tracy Carter Zigerelli (Larry) of Fort Smith, Ark.; brothers, Sammy Carter of Jonesboro and Sonny Carter (Elaine) of Woodworth; grandsons, Connor, Carter and Colt Day; his wife’s children, David Wheat (Terry) and children Susan and Mary, Patrick Wheat (Shaun) and children Joshua and Sarah, Stephen Wheat (Lori) and children Abigail, Stephen and Margaret; Ashley Wheat-Sipes (Richard) and children Emma, Reginald and Ryan.
The wake will be at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches Wednesday, Oct. 24 from 5-7 p.m. with the Holy Rosary at 6:30 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, Oct. 25 at 11 a.m. at St. Anthony’s of Padua Catholic Church with burial following at the Memory Lawn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Billy’s name to St. Anthony’s of Padua Catholic Church or a charity of choice.
