Terrence Francis (Red) Carter passed away on Friday, April 5 at 71 years of age after a brave battle with brain cancer. He was born on August 3, 1952 to Robert and Kathryn Carter. He was the third of their six sons and was a lifelong resident of Shawnee, KS. Red spent almost 50 years in the commercial glass and glazing industry in Kansas City, serving as Chairman for Carter Glass Inc. which was founded by his father. Red and his five brothers worked together and grew the company which glazed premier buildings and complexes in the Kansas City metro area. Upon the closure of Carter Glass, Red moved on to another family-owned glazing firm, Janssen Glass, for which he was an estimator.
Red attended St. Joseph grade school and was a lifelong member of St. Joseph Parish. He was a proud graduate of De La Salle High School and attended Johnson County Community College. In 1973, he married Sue Ellen Galvan and together they raised five sons. Family was very important to Red, as was his Catholic faith. He instilled in his sons the practice of hard work, honesty, love of faith and most of all, family. Red was a consummate family man and enjoyed imparting his wisdom to his sons. It was in coaching each of his sons that Red found a vehicle for this. It was not uncommon to hear him telling his players that a misplayed ground ball was “water under the bridge” or if a lackluster performance was given, the team might hear Red tell them they could not beat the “Little Sisters of the Poor.” As much as Red enjoyed coaching, it was fatherhood where he excelled the most. Being the patriarch of his large family was by far his proudest accomplishment. He was extremely proud of his five sons, loved his five daughters-in-law and doted on his 15 grandchildren.
Red was an example to family and friends of how to live your life with grace and dignity when God sends challenges. He adopted a mantra of hope when given a terminal cancer diagnosis in March of 2021 and chose to fight aggressively. He relied on his faith to sustain him when despair was at hand. He will be remembered by his family as a loving husband, father and grandfather. Those who knew Red will remember him for his generosity, kindness and willingness to help others.
Red is survived by his wife of 50 years, Sue, his five sons, their wives and 15 grandchildren: Timothy (Shellie) Overland Park, KS; Patrick (Tricia) Kansas, City, MO; Michael (Lindsay) Lenexa, KS; Jimmy (Brittany) Olathe, KS, and Bobby (Hillary) Leawood, KS. He is survived by his three brothers: Bob (Joan), Bill (Charlene) and Tom (Jan), along with many loved nieces and nephews. He also cherished his Texas cousins, the Cooks, with whom he shared a close bond. He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Kathryn Carter, and his brothers Jack and Jim.
A rosary and family tribute at 5:30 p.m. followed by a visitation will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 11311 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, Kansas 66203 on Sunday, April 14. The funeral Mass will be held at St. Joseph at 10 a.m. on Monday, April 15 with interment at St. Joseph Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at the church following services. We invite family and friends to join us.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like to request donations be made to the Sister Servants of Mary, 800 North 18th Street, Kansas City, Kansas, 66102-4291.