In loving memory of John Vance Carter, of Santa Barbara, Calif., who passed away on Thursday, April 15, 2010.
Vance Carter was born to Charles ("Nick") and Katherine (Mayer) Carter in Los Angeles on Nov. 13, 1944.
Vance attended grammar school in Beverly Hills at Beverly Hills Catholic School. He also attended Woodside Priory in Woodside, Calif., and graduated from Beverly Hills High School. He attended Foothill College and received his B.A. from the University of Denver in 1971. He met his wife Georgine while attending DU and they were married in 1972.
Vance became a chef at Ernie's Restaurant in San Francisco in 1971. The Carters then moved to Sun Valley, where Vance became head chef at the Duchin Room at the Sun Valley Lodge in Idaho. He opened the Copper Basin Restaurant in Hailey, Idaho, in the 1980s. He worked for Power Engineers in the 1990s, and later created Yummy Foods Inc., aka Georgine's Naturals line of salad dressings. Vance and Georgine moved to Santa Barbara in 2004 where he worked at the Sandpiper Golf Course and then at Coldwell Banker in Montecito.
Vance was very active throughout his life. He had a peaceful, spiritual connection with nature. Living in the mountains of Idaho was something he cherished. He enjoyed golf immensely and was a very accomplished player. He also enjoyed hiking, bird hunting, listening to music, making mixed CDs, road trips, skiing, working in the yard, playing tennis, playing with his dogs and spending time with his family.
Vance is survived by his wife of 38 years, Georgine; son, John, of San Diego; daughter, Zoe, of Santa Barbara; half brother Charles ("Chuck") of Breckenridge, Texas; sisters, Mary Alice Carter and Ann Cane of Los Angeles and Katherine Carter of Santa Fe, N.M.; nieces, Amy Tibbles and Diane Carter; and nephews, John and Doug Tibbles and Vance and Phillip Carter.
Vance was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in November 2009. A family memorial took place at the Sarah House in Santa Barbara on Sunday, April 18, 2010. His family remembers him for his imaginative and creative abilities, and his kind, sensitive, humorous and compassionate personality. Always having a genuine concern for others, Vance chose to gift his body to medical research.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the ALS Association (www.alsa.org), Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care of Santa Barbara, Sarah House or Hospice of Santa Barbara.
The Carter family sends out their deepest gratitude and appreciation to all of Vance's friends and supporters who have meant so much to Vance and to his family during these difficult times. Your concern and assistance will always be remembered. Thank you.
