Lois “Big Mama” Carter, 89, of Vidor, died Thursday, April 10, 2014.  She was born on August 14, 1924, in El Dorado, Arkansas, to Ruth Moore Craig and Tom Craig, and had been a longtime resident of Vidor.

Survivors include her children, Lois Marie Ellis and her husband, Neal, of Burkeville; Yvonne Strother and her husband Donald and Jenny Smith and her husband, Larry Cole, all of Vidor; Mary Dodson and her husband, Roger, of Mauriceville; Joe Carter, Jr. and his wife, Cissy, of Houston; and Sandra Spellman and her husband, Phillip, of Vidor; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and other relatives and friends.

A gathering of Mrs. Carter’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Sunday, April 13, 2014, at Old Faith Chapel, 2000 Highway 12, Vidor.  Her funeral service will be 2:00 p.m., Monday, April 14, 2014, at the church, with interment to follow at Restlawn Memorial Park, Vidor, under the direction of Broussard’s, 530 West Monroe, Kountze.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research, P.O. Box 1000, Memphis, Tennessee 38148; Ellie’s Miracle,4021 Cadence Drive, Springhill, Tennessee 37194; or Old Faith Chapel, P.O. Box 39, Vidor, Texas 77670.