Sharon Lea Carter
August 22, 1948 – November 28, 2023
My last gift to you. I hope you love it!
November 28th at 5:45 PM (she was probably late) the world became quieter but Heaven became much, much louder. One of Mom’s nicknames was “Jaws” and she definitely earned it. She is currently the center of attention, making laughter erupt, mostly with inappropriate jokes and a potty mouth that would make a trucker blush!
Her husband, Jim, tried for 55 years to tame her. Yep, he tried.
Jim only fathered 2 of her 20-30 children. Jaymi Carter-Ritchie (Scott) and Jayci Carter(Denise). Mom loved us with her whole body. She mothered us unconditionally. Mom’s favorite tactic was “Wait til’ your father gets home” which later changed to “I’ll tell Dad” when we were grown and out of the house. Occasionally we would get a “I won’t tell Dad”. Our secrets are forever safe now.
Mom made sure we had everything we ever needed and some things we didn’t. We could have done without the diabetes, the sky high triglycerides and her height or lack there of.
Mom owned and operated The Strawberry Café in Interlaken N.Y. It was a gem, a potential money maker. She could have been rich, if those 20-30 kids didn’t need breakfast, lunch money, a baseball glove, a prom dress or money for the roller skating party. You get the picture.
Mom started life small. She was the eldest daughter of Vernon and Barbara Brewer. She would soon become the female leader, behind her older brother Bill (Mary Kay), of a literal BRAT PACK. The members were her siblings: Vern, Steve, Theresa (Bob), Dana (her favorite-you all knew it, don’t act surprised)(Jeanie), Carol (Steve), Laurie (Don) and Bobi Ann (Larry) bringing up the rear.
Vern actually hated Mom but she probably loved him the hardest. Mom forgave him for the words he wrote to and about her just days before her death. But watch out…Dad didn’t!
There wasn’t much Mom loved more than Diet Coke, Misty 120’s and ½ off day at the Salvation Army except for Cody, Dylan, Nick, Jett, Jenna, Allison, and Hayden. Her heart just got bigger when Aveline and Izzy joined her posse.
Some people don’t know that Mom was once a drill sergeant. ARMY- No, that was Dana. Air Force- No, that was Bill. Marines- Nope that was Steve. Mom was leader/founder of The Little Pumpers and The Silver Bullets Marching Bands. A rag tag group she put together with those 20-30 kids of hers. Hope, Tina, Brian, Michelle, Steve, Danny, Craig, Ginny, Fuzzy, Don and Ron to name just a few. She paid for the expenses with what would have been money in her pocket. Jayci…I just realized we could have gone to 4 year schools. Oh well, it made summers fun.
Mom most recently perfected the skill of Kenya. It goes something like this. “Jim KENYA get me some ice cream” “Jim KENYA take me to the junk shop”…and he did. As tough as he is, she had him wrapped around her finger at the end.
Mom was frugal to a fault. She is already mad at how much these words are costing. If I listed all the cousins, nieces, nephews and friends she would come back and haunt us. But know this, she loved you all fiercely. Kathy Stein, you are the only exception. You were her best friend, she loved you more than her insulated cup.
Mom was petite, never traveled overseas, never went on a cruise, met anyone famous, or saw the west coast. However, if you look at the comments on our Facebook posts, she was larger than life itself! She did things BIG! She is known to have bought 17 sweaters in one purchase(it was a good deal), she bought the very short lived toilet paper roll that was the size of a bicycle tire, and $300s worth of subpar meat out of the back of a sketchy pick up truck (again a good deal).
Mom’s prettiest child survived addiction and is now 5 1/2 years clean. Getting Jayci through her hardest days were also Mom’s hardest days. In lieu of flowers, Mom would want donations made to Partnership to End Addiction or to The Spencer Cancer Center Patient Assistance Fund, where her smartest child works.
Mom has left us but the memories of her boisterous spirit, her raspy voice, and boundless love will live on forever. May she rest in peace and comfort surrounded by some Diet Coke, Misty 120’s, and shopping inside a Salvation Army. A celebration of her big life is planned for the Spring of 2024 in Ovid, N.Y.