Jerry Lynn Carter

NATIVE SON OF PARKER COUNTY; ENTREPRENEUR, ENTERTAINER WHO WAS BIGGER THAN LIFE ITSELF!

  Jerry Lynn Carter, 67, husband, best friend, mentor, Founder of The Texas Opry Theater and Parker and Palo Pinto County Shoppers, and business partner for the past 32 years of wife, Marilyn Carter. On June 18th, Jerry left this earth to be with his mom, dad, stepdaughter Kristina, and Jesus, in heaven.

  Jerry lost his vision 10 years ago due to diabetes and suffered from kidney failure and several serious bouts of pneumonia in the last five years necessitating his residence at College Park Long Term Care Facility.

  Jerry Carter was born and raised in Weatherford, was a 1969 graduate of Weatherford High School, was a born entertainer and entrepreneur from the age of eight years old. As a young man he delivered newspapers for the Ft. Worth Press, USA Today, Dallas Morning News, and the Weatherford Democrat. From an early age he was a born salesman going door to door with a wagon selling Grit Newspapers, flower and vegetable seeds and magazine subscriptions and delivering newspapers on his bicycle. He said he used to ride by the York Ave. Baptist Church and think that needed to be a theater instead of a church never dreaming he would someday own it and make it into a theater. Jerry was also raised competition homing and racing pigeons and won awards for the largest watermelon one year in a FFA contest.

  Jerry became interested in the Snow Cone business and with his dad’s help built several Snow Cone stands including the one that was on the corner of North Denton Dr. and Jameson in the front yard of his parents’ home. It was well known as the Carter Snow Cone Stand and Mr. and Mrs. Carter ran it every season for over 35 years.

  Jerry was always intrigued by moving pictures on the big screen and started operating the projectors for Mr. Jones in his theaters on the square standing on an apple cart to reach the controls. He grew up with Mr. Jones’ daughter, Roberta and granddaughter, Carla, working in the movie houses and later in the drive in. He learned how to sell concessions, popcorn, hot dogs, candy and cold drinks and developed his methods of keeping a theater clean and sanitary for every show. Jerry recounted a conversation with Mr. Jones about a candy bar he was chewing on at one time. Mr. Jones asked, “Do you like that candy bar, Jerry? Well, yes, Jonesy, I do! Well, Jerrrrrry, you know that candy bars are made to sell and not eat, don’t you?” That made a lifelong impression on Jerry Carter, the Entrepreneur and Concessionaire.

  Jerry was a projectionist at all Mr. Jones’ theaters in Weatherford and later at nearly every movie house and drive in theater in 50 miles, he was a member of the local Projectionist Union and the local Stage Hands Union in Tarrant County. He ran the laser lights and later toured with Elvis Presley, Paul McCartney Wings Tour, Pavarotti, nearly any and all stage events at the Tarrant County Convention Center in the 70’s. The Stagehands Union sent him to Arizona and California to work on the Gunsmoke sets where he met and became friends with James Arness (Matt Dillon) and all the crew and cast of the long running series.

  Jerry was a huge fan of John Wayne, Ernest Tubb, Hank Williams, Sr., Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash. He could sing and do exact impressions of these and many other entertainers. Tommy Cash once told Jerry that he sounded more like his brother than anyone else he ever heard.

  In the late 70’s, Jerry had the opportunity to go on the road with Ernest Tubb, subbing for his bass player for three months while he was on medical leave. He loved Ernest Tubb and could sing just like him.

  Jerry had an offer from Wyn Stewart to go on a national and later a world tour fronting his band but turned it down for home and family reasons. A decision he always regretted.

  In high school, Jerry was a member of the Weatherford High School Band, he played Clarinet and other woodwind instruments. He tormented his band leader by playing the Pink Panther theme instead of the assignments by the instructor. He had that perfect pitch ear and could identify a songs key immediately. Jerry learned the art of songwriting and has left behind a number of beautiful songs that may someday be big hits.

  Jerry fronted his own band in the 60's and 70's named Jerry Carter and the Chaparrals, had his own radio show on nine radio stations from Ft. Worth to Big Spring, until he had to make a choice between attending school classes or being drafted in the military. Luckily the Viet Nam War ended before his numbers were called.

  Jerry and his band became really popular in Texas and Oklahoma playing music every weekend for multiple events. He popularized the street dances in Weatherford until they were moved to Posse Club.

  In 1982, Jerry joined Wayne Haney in Weatherford with the Parker County Shopper and later established the Palo Pinto County Shopper delivering the Shopper to every home or mailbox in Parker and Palo Pinto County every week. In 1991, Jerry and Wayne purchased the York Ave Baptist Church building at 315 York Ave totally renovating it and in 1992 opened The Texas Opry Theater in the auditorium spotlighting amateur talent from all over North Texas along with occasional name artist such as Hank Thompson, Connie Smith, Little Jimmy Dickens, Leon Rausch, and Johnny Bush.

  They relocated the Parker County Shopper offices to this building too. They had Opry shows every Saturday night, Gospel and 50's shows on Friday nights and published weekly Shoppers every Tuesday for 14 years until Wayne Haney became terminally ill in 1995 and eventually sold the Shoppers to the parent company of the Weatherford Democrat. Jerry and Marilyn discontinued the shows in 1995 for logistic reason and moved to Granbury and started The Shopping Spot in Hood County and operated it for 13 years until he lost his vision. After Wayne Haney passed in 1997 Jerry became the sole owner of the York Ave property, leased it out to various beginning businesses such as Little Theater Off The Square and New River Fellowship Church, Silverado Cowboy Church, etc.

  In 2002, they re-opened the Texas Opry Theater with monthly shows featuring name country artist such as Ray Price, Don Williams, Gene Watson, Moe Bandy, Connie Smith, Bill Anderson, Bobby Bare, Stonewall Jackson and so many of the Grand Old Opry Stars and many artist from the Branson stages which has successfully established Weatherford with an Entertainment Destination venue that has brought in visitors from all over Texas and surrounding states for 15 of the past 25 years.

  When Jerry's loss of vision due to diabetes in 2005 forced the closing of the Shopping Spot in Granbury and the Texas Opry Theater Shows in Weatherford until 2010 when Jerry and Marilyn again re-opened the theater with regular live concerts featuring traditional country, classic rock, oldies rock and roll and gospel music shows several times per month.

  And until 2015 he was going into Rehabilitation and Convalescent Facilities singing country music songs to the residents in Weatherford and a half dozen surrounding towns.

  The Texas Opry Theater has become well known all over the Texas for its family friendly productions and to Nashville, Branson, and Las Vegas entertainers as a viable venue to bring their shows to.

  There will be a visitation at The Texas Opry Theater, on Sunday, June 24th, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and a Celebration of Life Service, also at The Texas Opry Theater on Monday, June 25th, at 1:00 p.m. Food will be available after the service at the Painted Pony Tea Room, one block over on 109 North Main, after the service. Procession to Granbury for the Graveside will leave at 4:00 p.m., with burial at the Granbury City Cemetery, next to his parents and grandparents.

  We invite friends and family that would like to share their special memories they may have of Jerry Carter and their relationship with him throughout his life. We will share some of his music and some video of him on stage at his beloved Texas Opry Theater. Jerry would not have wanted sadness and sorrow so his service will be as entertaining as he was so I hope all can attend.

  Most of all the goal is to fill the auditorium with folks that will honor his contribution and legacy to the City of Weatherford and Parker County. He could have taken his talents anywhere in the world but chose to keep them at home in Weatherford, Texas.

  Galbreaith Pickard Funeral Chapel is handling all the details of his interment.

  Jerry was born in Weatherford to Miller L. and Jessie Irene Carter (deceased).

  He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Carter; brothers, Clovis Carter and David Carter; nieces and nephews, Kristin Davis (Jason) their children, Summer, Tyler and Eric Davis, and her sister, Amanda Howard (Michael), Michael J. and Ellie, Jared Westenhover, Chloe, Jaden and James, Jenna Carter (Kevin) and son, Derek, Jacob (Raven) Tatum and Tylar; two stepsons, James A. Ansley (Mary) and Karl W. Ansley (Jill) of Azle; step-grandchildren, Jessica Nicole Nelson (Zach) and son, Alexander James of Austin and Kade Ansley Ross of Keller, and Cole Ansley of Azle, Justin Blain Ansley of Memphis, Tennessee, Kristina Gayle Ansley deceased in 1998; sisters in law, Connie Carter Armstrong (David) of Millsap and Wanda Carter of Weatherford; and first wife, Nelda Bea Havins Carter Harrison (Jim) of Mineral Wells.