Julia Veronica Carter, aged 96, a resident of Oak Ridge for the past 68 years, passed away in her sleep during the night of Saturday, November 8. Emeritus of Oak Ridge assisted living was her residence for the last three-plus years of her life.
Julia, the first of three daughters, most often referred to as Julie, was born on March 2, 1918, in Decatur, Illinois, to Sanford Joseph Thornton and Julia Cain Thornton. A life long Catholic, she graduated from St. Teresa’s parochial high school in 1936, and attended Millikin University, also in Decatur. Julie was the eldest of three sisters. Katherine and Jane, her siblings, preceded her in passing in 2005 and 2012 respectfully.
The tumult of World War II and a job opportunity with the atomic energy work in Oak Ridge brought her to Tennessee in 1946, the one and only relocation in her life. She married Robert Alfred Carter on September 29, 1947, and bore the first of her two children, a son, Charles Sanford Carter in August 1948. Charles’ birth was followed by that of a daughter, Julia Gabrielle Carter, in December 1953. The younger Julia, known as Judy, or Gabby, to some family members, was a special needs child and a lifelong joy to her parents, who were very active in the early days of the Daniel Arthur Education Center and Sheltered Workshop.
Julia’s two sisters, Katherine Thornton McGrath, and Jane Thornton Verkler, were living in Illinois at the time of their passing. Katherine had eight children and Jane had seven. While Julia lost the number-of-children contest, family gatherings were the very most special time to all of us, and can only be described as loving chaos.
In addition to a myriad of church activities at St. Mary’s, where she was a parishioner from its first day to the present, Julia was an avid gardener, earning the distinction of Master Gardener. Her gardening interests ranged from wildflowers to a specimen garden, and flower arranging. She especially enjoyed flower shows and arranging competitions, which resulted in a large collection of blue ribbons and “special mention” certificates. Her native wildflower garden achieved recognition in the area, and she loved to walk the paths that she set out for it in her woods, and show it to anyone who exhibited even a remote interest. She was a founding member of the West End Garden Club and mentored several generations of gardeners with love and respect.
Gardening aside, her most special life accomplishment has to be the care and love she shared with her daughter, Judy, who in a day when it was quite common to board children with Downs Syndrome, always lived at home and was encouraged to participate in the community. Judy held several jobs at Penny’s and other local establishments in addition to her work at the sheltered workshop. Dinnertime would find them sitting at the table laughing almost uncontrollably about—well, just about anything.
After her husband Robert’s passing in 1989, Julia shared a special friendship with Owen Killeen, a fellow parishioner at St. Mary’s until such time as she needed to be in assisted living.
A special mention of thanks to her last family, the loving caregivers at Emeritus who saw that she never had a bad day, needs to be added. She was made comfortable to her very last day. Many hugs to them, and all the citizens of her beloved Oak Ridge, all of whom meant so much to her.
A visitation was held on Saturday, November 15, from 1 to 2 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. The funeral mass began at 2 p.m. with Father Dustin Collins officiating. The burial followed at Oak Ride Memorial Park.
The family asks that any memorials be made to the Emory Valley Center, 715 Emory Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37830.
Weatherford Mortuary is handling the arrangements. An online guest book can be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com.
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