Irene Carter

Irene Stewart Carter passed away June 30, 2019 at Benton House Assisted Living Center in Olathe, Kansas. Irene was born in Paola, Kansas on July 19, 1926, the second child of the late Bernice and Ennis Stewart. She was preceded in death by an older brother, Robert Eager Stewart, who died as an infant, and is survived by a sister, Doris Masters, of Maricopa, Arizona. Irene graduated from Paola High School in 1944 and remained a lifelong resident of Paola. After graduation, she began working for the attorneys Coughlin and Coughlin who specialized in abstract and title work. She eventually established her own abstract and title company, Investors Loan and Abstract. She sold the business after the birth of her first child and became a full-time mother. In 1970, she formed Carter Realty, first working out of her home and eventually moving the business to a building on the corner of Hospital and Baptiste Drives. She retired in 1991. She married Jack Carter on March 5, 1955 and they were married for 64 years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack, who passed away in March of this year. She is survived by three children, Steve Carter and his wife, Martha, of Belton, Missouri, Sally Heilman and her husband, Steve, of Lawrence, Kansas, and Susan Carter of Olathe, Kansas. In addition, she is survived by nine grandchildren, Amber Evans of Olathe, Kansas, Abby Richards and her husband, Wes, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Britton Evans of Olathe, Kansas, Nellie Lawson and her husband, Micah, of Olathe, Kansas, Mason Heilman of Boston, Massachusetts, Shelton Heilman and his wife, Amanda, of Olathe, Kansas, Winston Heilman and his wife, Jesse, of Lawrence, Kansas, Lee Carter of Prairie Village, Kansas and Mattie Carter of Dallas, Texas. She has six great grandchildren, Rilyn, Talee, Lyla and Meritt Richards, Lanie Lawson and Rissie Evans. Irene will be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend to many with an optimistic passion for life. She was a life-time member of the First Baptist Church, serving in countless roles there over the years. She will be missed by her family and many others. In lieu of flowers, family requests contributions to First Baptist Church of Paola Memorial Fund. Visitation is 9:30 a.m.; funeral service is 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 3, 2019 at First Baptist Church, 207 E. Wea St., Paola, KS., Burial is in Paola Cemetery. To share your memories of Irene or leave a special condolence message for her family, please click on the Share a Memory box.