Lela Ann Carter used her many gifts and talents to serve her family and friends all of her days. She had an eye for fashion and was encouraging of others and supporting good causes. Most of all though, she loved her family. She left this life unexpectedly on Thursday, January 3, 2019, while recovering from recent heart surgery. She was 68.

The firstborn child of Thelma (Parrish) and Clifford Dickinson, Lela Ann came into this world on February 22, 1950, in Chandler, OK. She grew up in Luther, OK, and graduated with the Luther High School Class of 1968.

Lela married Joe Carter on March 16, 1979, and was a devoted Mother to Tami and Brandon. While she worked in many places as an executive secretary with special skills in organizing, events and working with the public, she spent eight years serving her hometown as the Luther Town Clerk. She was a founding organizer of the Luther Pecan Festival in 2017, and worked tirelessly to make both years of the event a success, making many new friends along the way.

She loved cooking, and enjoyed making pecan pies with her granddaughter for the festival. Her grandchildren were the lights of her life, she was their cheerleader and supported them in all of their activities and growth.

She also loved treasure hunting with her friend Mary Ann Briscoe and made their hobby a business with a successful booth at Luther’s Rustic Farm.

Lela was preceded in death by her parents, and one brother, Dale Dickinson. Her survivors include husband, Joe Carter, of the home, Tami Seknicka and her husband, Ted, of Edmond; son, Brandon Canada, and his wife, Katherine, of Whispering Pines, NC; one brother, Wayne Dickinson of Midwest City, and grandchildren Paige and Adam Seknicka and Henry and Scarlett VanBrenk, as well as a host of other family and friends.

Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. Proverbs 31:31

​A celebration of life will be held, Monday, January 7, 2019, at 2 pm at the Luther First Christian Church, 415 E First Street, Luther, OK 73054. Funeral arrangements by Boydston-Bailey Funeral Home of Luther.