Mary Carol (Kuss) Carter

Mary Carol Carter peacefully passed away Sunday October 8th, 2023, with a small group of family by her side. Mary Carol was preceded in death by the love of her life Charles Andrew Carter of Leadville, CO, and her oldest son Andrew Carter of Denver. Mary Carol is survived by her brother and sister-in-law Dolph and Sabina Kuss of Durango, CO, her 5 children and their spouses, David and Stella Carter of Miami, FL, Karen (Carter) Zaitz and David Zaitz of Dillon, CO, Matt and Suzanne Carter of West Orange, NJ, Tom and Lauren Carter of Centennial, CO, Rod and Wendi Carter of Littleton, CO and her daughter in law Sherry Carter of Denver, CO.  Mary Carol is also survived by the joys of her life her fifteen grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Mary was born to Adolph and Adeline (Baldessari) Kuss in Leadville, CO in October of 1935. She grew up enjoying the outdoors and winter sports with a special love of skiing. Mary was an excellent junior skier winning many races against other women skiers some of whom were later Olympians. In her words, “I loved to ski but never really enjoyed the competitive part.”  

Mary attended Leadville High School where she enjoyed being a cheerleader and rooting on the various athletic teams. That is where she met  Charles (Chuck) Carter. They were high school sweethearts, and although they attended different colleges, they stayed together through long distance. Mary attended Saint Mary’s College in Leavenworth, KS while Chuck attended Regis College in Denver. They were married in the spring of 1957 and moved to Germany where Chuck was stationed in the army. The couple had their first child Andrew Carter while in Germany. The couple moved back to Leadville to begin their lives together and continue building a family. 

When asked Mary would say being a mother and grandmother were her greatest joys. She was a kind loving mother but had the respect of all her children. She had numerous friends and relatives in Leadville and had strong lifelong relationships with many of those people. She and Chuck loved taking walks and spent much of their time attending their children’s sporting events and other activities. Mary loved watching her children and grandchildren play sports, play music, act in the theatre etc. and rarely missed an event. Mary was active in the church community and spent years as a member of PEO, Chapter AF, of Leadville.

Later in life Mary had to leave Leadville for health reasons and spent many years in the Denver area. She built many strong friendships in her Denver community and maintained her lifelong bonds with her friends in Leadville and family around the Country. Mary enjoyed travel during these years visiting her children and grandchildren who had moved across the country and world.

Mary Carol Carter was one of the most kind, caring, and gentle people that God ever placed on earth. She left this life as she lived it, with beauty and grace. She will be missed by many but will be happily welcomed in Heaven by those who preceded her there. 

Service for Mary Carol, including a rosary and a mass of Christian burial, will be held at Annunciation Catholic Church in Leadville CO on Saturday, October 14th at 11:00 am.

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