Phil Carter

Phil Carter, 72, of Jonesboro, passed from this life on Thursday, January 12,  2023, at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro.

Born in Jonesboro, Phil was a 1968 graduate of Nettleton High School where he was a sophomore member of the inaugural football program in the fall of 1965. He was named first team to the All-Tri-County Football Team by the Jonesboro Sun following his senior season. Phil was also a member of the Raiders Basketball and Track teams. At the 1968 Craighead County Track Meet held at Kay’s Stadium on the Arkansas State University campus, Phil placed first in the half-mile run and the mile run, setting a new track meet record of a 5.00 minute mile. Phil was a member of the 1967 Nettleton Livestock judging team, along with Doug Hochstetler and Lynn Tosh, that won first place in the Arkansas High School Judging Contest at Fayetteville. The team went on to represent Arkansas at the American Royal Livestock Show National Judging Contest for Future Farmers of America held in Kansas City.

Phil was commissioned an Arkansas State Police Trooper by Gov. Dale Bumpers in September 1973 and assigned to highway patrol in Troop E, (E-18), Ashley County, and moved with his young family to Hamburg. In 1975 Phil was re-assigned to Troop C, (C-10), highway patrol, and transferred to Jonesboro. In 1998 Phil was assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division of Company F in Jonesboro and worked 11 years as a Special Agent in CID until his retirement on June 30, 2009, culminating in 35 years and 10 months with the Arkansas State Police. The Jonesboro Exchange Club named Phil recipient of the Craighead County Peace Officer of the Year Award for 2004.

Phil enjoyed hunting, especially deer hunting with his family and spending time at their hunting lodge in the hills near Hardy. He enjoyed working with his tractor bushhogging and gardening, bird watching, grilling and spectator sports such as football and baseball. He really enjoyed traveling to St. Louis often and taking in the Cardinals baseball games. Almost without exception, his day started early with friends and coffee at Burger King. Phil also enjoyed music; all sorts of music. He would travel to concerts with his friends and stay until the curtain call concluded. He also enjoyed a lively round of trivia.

One annual event that came to the top as a very favorite time for Phil was the yearly trip to Gulf Shores for golf. Beginning with one van of guys over thirty years ago grew to two and three vehicles of Jonesboro area men who left the cold winter days behind in Jonesboro and spent a week on the Gulf Coast playing golf every day. Phil lived for it.

Phil was a member of First Baptist Church in Jonesboro and a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve and Arkansas National Guard.

Phil was preceded in death by his father, Leland Carter, his father-in-law, Troy Mouzy, and a brother-in-law, Steven Mouzy.

Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Kayren Mouzy Carter, married May 31, 1969;

mother, Amy Heath Carter of Jonesboro;

son, Brian Carter of Jonesboro;

daughter and son-in-law: Stacey and Tim Carr of Little Rock;

2 sisters and their husbands: Diane and Michael Blackwood, and Nancy and Vic Brooks, all of Jonesboro;

5 brothers and their wives: Mike and Debbie Carter of Paragould, Rick and Diane Carter, and Paul Carter, all of Jonesboro; Tim and June Carter of Greenbrier; and John and Annette Carter of Brookland;

4 grandchildren, Cade Phillip Carter and Keely Ann Carter of Jonesboro and Camryn Elizabeth Carr and Madison Sloan Carr of Little Rock;

Mother-in-law, Frances Mouzy of Jonesboro;

Brother-in-law, Mark Mouzy and his wife Robin of Jonesboro;

Also surviving are numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Visitation will be from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Monday at Emerson Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday at Emerson Memorial Chapel with Dr. Craig McDaniel officiating. Burial will follow in Rutherford Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be the Arkansas State Police Honor Guard.  Honorary pallbearers include his Coffee Shop Buddies and his Annual Golfing Trip Group.

For lasting memorials the family asks that consideration be given to the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House, 400 East St. Jonesboro, AR 72401; American Cancer Society, Arkansas Chapter, 901 N. University Ave., Little Rock, AR 72207; or the American Lyme Disease Foundation-Ehrlichiosis Study, 157 Church St., 19 ^th Floor, New Haven, CT 06510.