Bruce R. Carter ’52

Bruce Raymond “Raymie” Carter, 90, passed comfortably on Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, at Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital.

He was born Dec. 8, 1930, to Gertrude Eldridge Carter Fernald and Bruce S. Carter, followed by stepfather Bertrum “Sharky” Fernald.

Bruce attended Franklin High School and Maine Maritime Academy (E 1952) with the aid of Sen. Mac Noyes. He served in the U.S. Navy from October 1954 through October 1957 and in 1966 on a Vietnam ammo ship. He served aboard the USS Intrepid (1954-1955) and in the Navy Reserves (1958-1968). Bruce traveled the world as a Merchant Marine. After leaving the high seas, he worked at the Maine Department of Corrections Downeast near Jasper Beach.

He later served Franklin as selectman, road commissioner, water commissioner, assessor, Planning Board member and Community Center trustee.

Bruce wrote the “History of Roads in Franklin,” with some side commentary, as always. Books researched and written by him are “Odyssey in a Downeast Outhouse” and “Oblivion & Dead Relatives Downeast.”

Many hours were devoted to the establishment and development of the Franklin Veterans Club, starting in the old “culvert.” At beano he sold tear tickets, and he ran the coin game on Friday nights.

A few of his other activities included: MMA director, Realtor, VFW member, DAH lodge member, certified assessor, contributor to The Ellsworth American, panelist for Maine Public Opinion and race announcer at Cherryfield and Graham Lake dirt tracks.

Bruce was the owner/operator of Ma’s Barn/Franklin Stove Shop for many years, keeping his mother Gert busy.

His passion was Franklin genealogy, especially the cemeteries, which he was working on up until his last week.

In “retirement,” he and Alice traveled all over Maine, with good friends Robert, Bev and Millard, Paul and Teddy, Wayne and Martha, Merle and Allie, just to name a few. They knew all the good eateries and ice cream joints.

He was predeceased by his mother, Gert, and father, Sharky, wife, Alice, cat Stewie and favorite brother-in-law Harold. Bruce leaves his son Greg and his daughter Dawn (Monica).

There will be a celebration of life at the Franklin Volunteer Fire Department on Saturday, Nov. 13, at 1 p.m.