Friends invited to help Cape Girardeau resident celebrate his 100th birthday

A centennial celebration for Kenneth Carter is planned from 2 to 4 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Health Center Activities Center Room at Chateau Girardeau, 3120 Independence St. Birthday cake will be served.

Born Feb. 21, 1907, in St. Louis, Carter attended Ashland Grade School and Yeatman High School. In 1926 he was employed by Shell Oil Co., and in 1928 he met Evelyn Gourley at the Elmbank Methodist Church. They were married there June 14, 1930. The couple had two sons, Dale and Russell, born in 1931 and 1933, respectively.

Carter served in World War II in the U.S. Navy, stationed in Moberly, Mo., as a recruiter. In 1946, he returned to civilian life in St. Louis employed with Shell Oil. He became plant superintendent of the new Shell Oil Terminal in Cape Girardeau in 1949.

Retiring in 1966, Carter set out to fulfill a lifelong dream of living on his own farm. The Carters settled on a 72-acre farm in Wayne County, just north of Sam A. Baker Park. Three horses and two dogs were the "livestock."

The couple moved to Chateau Girardeau in 1980. His wife died in 1987. In 2004, he moved to an apartment in the Assisted Living Wing of the Chateau, where he presently resides.

Carter is the oldest living member of Centenary Methodist Church.

Friends of Carter are invited to the celebration with parking available in the main parking lot at the Chateau or in the Health Center Assisted Living Parking Lot.