Virginia Faye Carter was born to Harry Leslie and Mary “Kathleen” (Hall) Crossett on November 6, 1920, in rural Clay County, near Kearney. On February 15, 2020, Virginia went home to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, whom she met as a young girl and followed Him faithfully her whole life.
She graduated from Kearney High School in 1938 and attended William Jewell College, in Liberty, Mo., to become a teacher. After Virginia graduated from William Jewell in 1942, she began teaching at Liberty Junior High School. She met her “knight in shining armor”, Graham W. “Bill” Carter, a WWII Army veteran, and they married in 1948. While living in Liberty, Bill and Virginia had two wonderful daughters, Sharon Lynn and Judy Kay.
In 1956, the family moved to a farm in Pleasanton, Kans., and Virginia continued to teach at La Cygne and Pleasanton schools for 25 years. Virginia, Bill, Sharon and Judy were all active in their church in Pleasanton, Kans. In 1983, Virginia and Bill were active in organizing and serving in a Southern Baptist Church (BYKOTA) in Pleasanton, Kans.
After Bill’s passing in 1997, Virginia returned to Kearney as a retiree. She remained active as a church member of First Baptist Church in Kearney, Mo., until she moved to the Baptist Home in Chillicothe, Mo. While she outlived her husband and two daughters, and missed reaching 100 by several months, she gained everlasting life through her faith in Jesus Christ and remained a faithful prayer warrior until she graduated to glory.
Sharon referred sweetly to her Momma as Mamacita, which came from Jackie Kean, her granddaughter. Her heart doctor referred to her as a national treasure, which Virginia loved. She was a sweet and kind lady with a quick and easy laugh. She maintained her sense of humor her whole life. Sweet dreams dear Virginia. She will be deeply missed by those of us who knew and loved her.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bill; daughters, Sharon and Judy; her brother, Lindsay Crossett; and her sister, Helen C. Smith.
She is survived by her son-in-law, John Kean; grandson, Jeff Kean and his wife, Samantha Rossmango Kean; granddaughter, Jackie Kean and her husband, Kody Quinn; great-grandson, Hudson Quinn; along with numerous brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews. She also wanted a special mention to “My wonderful friends at First Baptist Church of Kearney, Mo.”
Visitation will be held from 1:30 to 2:00 p.m., Friday, February 21, 2020 with memorial service following at the First Baptist Church of Kearney. Burial will take place at a later date at Bethel Cemetery, Kearney, Mo.
Arrangements are in care of Fry-Bross & Spidle Funeral Home, Kearney, Mo.
