Patricia Anne Carter, 82, passed away peacefully at home Sunday, June 22, with family beside her. She fought a long, spirited battle with cancer. Born August 13, 1931, in Trinity, Texas to Aurelia Arnold Royer and Freeman Royer, Patricia grew up during the Great Depression to become the lovely, articulate, and compassionate woman we remember. She remains a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and loyal friend.
Patricia attended Sam Houston State University and later worked in the Texas State Legislature for freshman legislator Charlie Wilson. Widowed at an early age, she moved to Beaumont with her two young sons and became secretary at St. Stephens Episcopal Church where she met her husband Keith. Following their marriage she worked for nearly forty years as a writer, advisor, and business manager to their shared artistic practice.
A woman with an extraordinary mind, impeccable style, and a lover of people, art and books, Patricia will be forever remembered for her spirited singing of Spanish love songs, her lifelong affection for Mexico and her people, impromptu recitations of poetry, and the unmatched humor and kindness of her gracious heart. She remains the living embodiment of Yeats’ “silver apples of the moon, the golden apples of the sun.”
Her enduring legacy resides in her children, family and friends; Mother’s Day 2014: granddaughter Meagan wrote, “You are graceful, elegant, beautiful, intelligent, creative, funny, brave, artistic, bold, unique, loving, courageous, generous, and one fabulous woman.” Granddaughter Lauren wrote; “Greatest Grand-mere; you embody grace, love, style, and a whole lot of silly. Thank you for teaching me the art of temporary tattoos, a love of stealing neighbor’s flowers, candles, cashmere, a love for poetry, and most importantly, how to love others.”
Patricia Carter is survived by granddaughters, Meagan Cropper and her husband, Ferdy of Beaumont; Lauren Staton of Austin; grandson, Larin Crase of Meeker, Colorado; sons, Jason Staton and his wife, Liria of Coppell, Texas; Douglas Staton and his wife, Janna of Beaumont; and her husband of thirty-nine years, Keith Carter of Beaumont.
Mrs. Carter is preceded in death by her parents; husband, C. J. Staton, the father of her sons, Jason and Douglas.
A Memorial Celebration of her life will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, June 28, 2014, at St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 4090 Delaware Street, Beaumont, under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue. Patricia Carter will be laid to rest in the Texas State Cemetery, in Austin.
Memorials may be made to the Southeast Texas Food Bank P.O. Box 21012, Beaumont, Texas 77720; Some Other Place, P.O. Box 843, Beaumont, Texas 77704; or St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 4090 Delaware Street, Beaumont, Texas 77706.
