Sept. 12, 1924 — Aug. 31, 2015

Maneen Carter, 90, of Niles, died surrounded by her family at her home at 6:30 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 31, 2015.

She was born on Sept. 12, 1924, in Portageville, Missouri to Dewey and Mary Etta (Moss) Samples. She attended school in Portageville, and came to Niles in 1957. In Niles, she was first employed at the former Michigan Mushroom Company, and later at the former Garden City Cleaners, and the Niles Long John Silver’s.

Maneen was a member of the Michiana Christian Embassy. She was a great cook, especially southern-style beans and fried dishes including okra; but her greatest interest and joy was caring for her family.

On May 2, 1946, in Blytheville, Arkansas she married Harold L. “Leon” Carter with whom she celebrated the 56th anniversary of their wedding prior to his death on Nov. 29, 2002. She was also preceded in death by her twin-sister, Christine Redden; brothers Leman Samples and Wilburn Samples; and a son-in-law, Jim Coleman.

Surviving family includes her children, Jan Coleman, twins Ron (Barb) Carter and Donna Rhodes, Jean Johnson, and Mark Leon (Anna) Carter, all of Niles; 11 grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Wilma (Ivan) Allen of Niles, and brother, Shelton (Sandra) Samples of Portageville; and many nieces and nephews.

The memorial service for Maneen Carter will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015, at the Michiana Christian Embassy with Pastor Jeffrey L. Whittaker of the church officiating. Committal will be private, at a later date at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday at the church beginning at 10 a.m. Contributions in memory of Maneen may be made to Hospice at Home, or the Blossomland Learning Center. Arrangements were made at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles. www.halbritterfunerals.com