Mary Ellen Carter

Mary Ellen Carter – age 86, died Saturday, December 19, 2020 at Providence Marionwood in Issaquah, WA. She was born February 13, 1934, in Marion, Virginia to E.J. and Elizabeth Parsons.

Mary married Bynum Pennington in 1952. She traveled with him to Boston, MA; Pensacola, FL; Norfolk, VA; Oak Harbor, WA and Key West, FL while Bynum was in the Navy. She drove with all six kids across the country by herself many times. Mary and Bynum were divorced in1970.

Mary married Dave Carter in 1972.

Mary worked for years at the Bon Marche in downtown Seattle and Northgate as a waitress. She was such a good waitress that people would be waiting in the waiting room even though there were lots of empty tables available. They were willing to wait for the best! Then she worked at the Country Gentleman as a waitress where she met some people who worked at Boeing. They were so impressed with her that they offered her a job at Boeing. She worked as a tool room clerk at Boeing for 20 years before retiring.

While at Boeing she also started the Mary Carter Belt Buckle Company and she sold belt buckles featuring Boeing airplanes out of her blue van. She came up with the themes and Dave Carter drew the designs

Mary loved her children and would do anything for them. She was also famous for her chocolate cinnamon rolls.

Survivors include her 6 children, Rhonda (Alan) McKim, Woodinville, WA; Robert (Lu Ann) Pennington, Bullhead City, AZ; Vicky (Steve) Daniels, Kent, WA; Janet (Junior), Marion, VA; David (Cindy) Pennington, Marysville, WA; Cindy (Jim) Jordan, Arizona City, AZ; stepdaughter Kristen Carter, Tampa FL; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; brother Earl (Marilyn) Parsons, Wilkesboro, NC; sister Linda Parsons, Statesville, NC and sister-in-law Edna Pennington, Chilhowie, VA.

She was preceded in death by her parents, infant brother, husband Bynum Pennington, and husband Dave Carter.

There will be no public service. 

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