Billie (Bill) Ray Carter passed away from natural causes on November 13, 2025, at the age of 96.

Bill was born on August 24, 1929, in Marietta, Oklahoma to Ibra Preston and Ruby Inez Wilson Carter and was raised in Texas and Southern Oklahoma.  His father Preston was an oil "Wildcatter" who drilled numerous wells throughout Texas and Oklahoma and by the time Bill graduated from Davis, Oklahoma high school in 1947 he'd attended more than 14 schools – some for only weeks at a time.

His mother, Ruby Inez died when Bill was age 2 and he was raised by his grandparents and aunt until age 5 when his father remarried.  Bill was predeceased by two younger half-brothers, Kenneth Wayne Carter and Preston Eugene Carter.

At age 17 after an argument with his father he left home and travelled to California to live with his aunt Audean Hopkins and worked as a Soda Jerk.  California was a 3-month adventure, but he returned to Oklahoma and enlisted in the U.S. Army.  After initial training he served in the U.S. Canal Zone in Panama for 2 years as a military Financial Clerk.

In January 1951 he married Patsy Ann Eaves of Davis, Oklahoma and they were soon blessed with three daughters and a son.

Bill attended the University of Oklahoma but transferred to Oklahoma A & M (now Oklahoma State University) and graduated with an Accounting Degree in 1954.  After a series of accounting jobs in Texas and Oklahoma, he was St. Francis Hospital's first accountant but later joined American Airlines in Tulsa where he was promoted to Senior Cost Accountant and retired in 1984.

After retirement he participated in drilling multiple oil and gas wells in Eastern Oklahoma.

Patsy, his wife of 52 years predeceased him in 2003, and he is survived by daughters Rae Ann Carter Swift and her husband Chris of Mounds, OK, Laura Lea Carter of Mounds, OK, Sandra Lyn Carter Lloyd of Tulsa, OK and son Richard Dwight Carter and his wife Karen Diane Carter of San Jose, California.  In addition, he is survived by 6 grandchildren: Sean Eric Hedin and Aaron Jason Hedin of Mounds, OK.  Devon Michael Lloyd and Lauren Taylor Lloyd of Tulsa, OK.  Austin Christopher Swift of Cambridge, UK and Dana Rae Swift Bysani of Austin, TX.  Also surviving are 4 great grandchildren Micah Everett Hedin, Ammeyla Grace Hedin, Coen Alaric Lloyd, and Kasen Elliot Lloyd.

Interment will be next to his beloved wife Patsy at Calvary Cemetery in South Tulsa on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 1:00 P.M.

Arrangements are under the direction of Traditions Funeral Home, 35 S Main, Kellyville, OK 74039 ~ 918-247-7373.