Dennis Eugene was born with the infamous “Carter Scowl” on Feb. 5, 1947, in South Bend, IN, to Pinkney Eugene and Norma Jean (Cook) Carter. In the middle of five other siblings, Butch, as he came to be called, spent his youth raising Cain while also excelling in school. He graduated in 1964, a year early, and enlisted into the United States Navy, completing a full tour in Vietnam and serving from August 1964 to December 1967. Just prior to enlisting, Butch met his wife, Judy, on a blind date through mutual friends on Jan. 2, 1964. They spent many weekends together while their love for each other flourished and they were married June 25, 1966. For the next 58 years their family tree would grow and branch with the two of them as the anchoring roots.
Shortly after leaving the Navy, Butch joined the Sheet Metal Workers Union and spent a majority of his career at W. Soule & Co., Kalamazoo, MI. He retired from there in 2002, after a very influential tenure leaving behind a legacy and the “Butch List.”
Butch’s favorite pastime, besides crosswords, puzzles, reading, and anything Notre Dame, was watching any and all Lawton Blue Devil athletics events. On any given evening, he could be found in the stands or on the wall of the gym cheering on whatever Blue Devil team was playing. He was a true super fan and his notorious “Come on you guys!” could be heard throughout the crowd on Friday nights when he didn’t like the outcome of a play on the football field. He never missed a game even after his cancer diagnosis, at one point being discharged from the hospital to go directly to his grandsons’ football game.
Butch is survived by his wife, Judy (Prehn) Carter; his children, Jason (Laurie) Carter and Tara Pollock; his eight grandchildren, Dominick (Ashleigh), Mark, Victor, Kayla (Robert), Armand (Ambrea), Kyle (Megan), William, and Cody; his 16 great-grandchildren; his brother, Kevin Carter, as well as a bonus daughter, Lisa Oxley and grandchildren, Jaunica Fouth and Jordan Oxley.
He is preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Mary Pawlak, Will Carter, Bruce Carter, and Janis Slisz.
Family and friends are invited to visit Friday, Feb. 21, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Adams Funeral Home, 502 W. Michigan Avenue, Paw Paw. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Feb. 22, at 2 p.m. at the Red Brick Hall, 301 N. Main St., Lawton. A reception will follow until 6 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Lawton Athletic Boosters, PO Box 39, Lawton, MI, 49065, or Lawton Community Schools, 101 Primary Way, Lawton, MI, 40965.
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