The Life of Arlene Carter Sylvester
Arlene Feaster Carter Sylvester, age 82, native of Ville Platte and resident of Whiteville, died Thursday, October 8, 2015, at Heart Hospital in Lafayette. She was born to the late William and Esther (Klahr) Feaster on March 27, 1933 in Casper, WY, and moved five years later to the Conoco Camp in Tate Cove, outside Ville Platte, along with her siblings Bill, Cara and John.
Arlene excelled in sports and academics at Ville Platte High School, participating in basketball and cheerleading, advancing to the state championship in tennis and being named salutatorian in 1951. Growing up in Ville Platte, she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior at First Baptist Church, where she served during high school as church pianist. At Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now ULL), she met aspiring young geologist Richard Carter, whom she married in 1955 after earning an education degree in Home Economics. More than 20 years later, she earned a second degree at USL from the School of Architecture, Interior Design.
Arlene worked as a home demonstration agent with the Cooperative Extension Service and as a school teacher, while supporting her husband''s Air Force and oilfield career, as well as raising three sons. Her cities of residence included Abbeville, Lafayette, Scott A.F. Base, IL, Scottsdale, AR, New Orleans, Pineville, Bayou Chicot, Houston and Tulsa, OK, in which locations she often sang in church choirs and taught Sunday School.
In 2012, after living as a widow for 21 years, a lively romance with her high school sweetheart was rekindled, and on February 3, 2013, Arlene and Chester Sylvester were married. During the last two and a half years of her life, Arlene found great joy and purpose with Chester in Whiteville, surrounded by the loving Sylvester family.
Arlene shared with others her deep appreciation for the beauty of nature, becoming a Master Gardener and painting flowers on canvas and the ceramics that she created by hand. She served as a gentle example of devotion to Christ for her children, grandchildren, extended family and friends.
Arlene is survived by her husband, Chester Sylvester; sons, Dicky and wife Billie Jo, Jeff Carter, Steve Carter and wife Bethany; her brothers, Bill Feaster and wife Raynell, John Feaster; her sister, Cara Coe and husband James; grandchildren Jonathon and wife Brittany, Rebecca, Luke, Katy, Aaron, Noah, Hope, Ethan and wife Lauren Carter, Kathryn, Melanie, Christine and Zack Carter, Rachael and husband Joshua Matz. She is preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Esther Feaster, and her first husband, Richard Carter.
Visitation will be held from 6 – 9 PM Sunday, October 11, at Delhomme Funeral Home, 1101 Bertrand Dr. in Lafayette, followed on Monday, 11 AM with funeral services at Calvary Baptist Church in Bayou Chicot and burial service at 3 PM in Lafayette Memorial Park. Pallbearers include Ethan, Jonathon, Luke, Noah, and Zachary Carter and Joshua Matz. Music will be provided by Aaron Carter.
Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA managed all funeral arrangements.
Arlene excelled in sports and academics at Ville Platte High School, participating in basketball and cheerleading, advancing to the state championship in tennis and being named salutatorian in 1951. Growing up in Ville Platte, she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior at First Baptist Church, where she served during high school as church pianist. At Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now ULL), she met aspiring young geologist Richard Carter, whom she married in 1955 after earning an education degree in Home Economics. More than 20 years later, she earned a second degree at USL from the School of Architecture, Interior Design.
Arlene worked as a home demonstration agent with the Cooperative Extension Service and as a school teacher, while supporting her husband''s Air Force and oilfield career, as well as raising three sons. Her cities of residence included Abbeville, Lafayette, Scott A.F. Base, IL, Scottsdale, AR, New Orleans, Pineville, Bayou Chicot, Houston and Tulsa, OK, in which locations she often sang in church choirs and taught Sunday School.
In 2012, after living as a widow for 21 years, a lively romance with her high school sweetheart was rekindled, and on February 3, 2013, Arlene and Chester Sylvester were married. During the last two and a half years of her life, Arlene found great joy and purpose with Chester in Whiteville, surrounded by the loving Sylvester family.
Arlene shared with others her deep appreciation for the beauty of nature, becoming a Master Gardener and painting flowers on canvas and the ceramics that she created by hand. She served as a gentle example of devotion to Christ for her children, grandchildren, extended family and friends.
Arlene is survived by her husband, Chester Sylvester; sons, Dicky and wife Billie Jo, Jeff Carter, Steve Carter and wife Bethany; her brothers, Bill Feaster and wife Raynell, John Feaster; her sister, Cara Coe and husband James; grandchildren Jonathon and wife Brittany, Rebecca, Luke, Katy, Aaron, Noah, Hope, Ethan and wife Lauren Carter, Kathryn, Melanie, Christine and Zack Carter, Rachael and husband Joshua Matz. She is preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Esther Feaster, and her first husband, Richard Carter.
Visitation will be held from 6 – 9 PM Sunday, October 11, at Delhomme Funeral Home, 1101 Bertrand Dr. in Lafayette, followed on Monday, 11 AM with funeral services at Calvary Baptist Church in Bayou Chicot and burial service at 3 PM in Lafayette Memorial Park. Pallbearers include Ethan, Jonathon, Luke, Noah, and Zachary Carter and Joshua Matz. Music will be provided by Aaron Carter.
Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA managed all funeral arrangements.
