Pioneer May Carter dies

May 5, 2006

By DARRELL L. BREESE

Frontiersman

WASILLA - When May Carter climbed off the train in the &#8220town” of Matanuska in 1940, all that was there was the rail depot and a hotel; the depot had no agent and the hotel was closed.

She went on from that rough start in the Valley to help establish the area's first school board. She played a vital role in developing the first Wasilla Area School. She also worked with her husband to build the first fire department in Wasilla.

Carter died Tuesday at her Lake Lucille home, where she lived for 46 years raising her four children.

&#8220Mom rallied up enough strength to have three good days before Monday,” Barb Carney, one of Carter's three daughters.

&#8220May was a wonderful woman,” longtime friend Margaret Heaven said. &#8220She played a big part in shaping Wasilla's history. She was the most honest, fair and straightforward person I knew.”

A memorial service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wasilla.

Born Aug. 25, 1915, in Montana, as a little girl she was afraid of Indians. Carter moved to Alaska in 1940 with her husband, Pat, and purchased a mile-long stretch of property on Lake Lucille for $900.

Carter served as the United States Territorial Commissioner and Magistrate for the area starting in 1944. During her time as commissioner she performed the wedding ceremony for Joe and Vi Redington in 1953.

She also served as the postmaster for Wasilla for 29 years, retiring in 1973.

Cater later played a key role in the establishment of Sacred Heart Church and the Bishop's Attic in Palmer.

LeRoi Heaven, who worked at the post office with her, shared a story during Carter's 90th birthday celebration in August 2005 of delivering the mail in the middle of a snowstorm with her riding along making the bulk of the deliveries.

&#8220She was my supervisor and didn't think twice about getting involved,” Heaven said. &#8220The next year, a guy came out from Anchorage for the ride along, and he wanted nothing to do with making the deliveries. May loved Alaska and was always ready to go.”

Mat-Su Borough Assembly member Mary Kvalheim, who represents Wasilla, called Carter one of the true treasures of the Valley.

&#8220She had a pioneering spirit,” Kvalheim said. &#8220She was a gem of a person, and I was sad to hear she passed.”

&#8220I've been cutting back on my involvement with various groups so I could spent more time with some of the pioneers of our community,” Kvalheim said. &#8220May was one I was looking forward to visiting with.”

Wasilla Mayor Dianne Keller mourned the loss of Carter.

&#8220I knew her both as a friend and as a part of the history of our community,” Keller said. &#8220She was a wonderful mentor as a pioneer woman and very instrumental in shaping our community. The community owes a lot of gratitude to her for what she contributed.”

&#8220A lot of history died with May,” LeRoi Heaven said. &#8220The stuff that was never written down, she always had the answer. A big part of the Valley's past died with her.”

Following the funeral service, a burial service will be held at Aurora Cemetery in Wasilla. A reception at the church will follow the cemetery services.

Contact Darrell L. Breese at 352-2267 or at darrell.breese@frontiersman.com