Audrey E. Carter, well known piano teacher, organist and music teacher in the Carlsbad Schools for 20 years, entered into her heavenly place August 14, 2017 at dawn in Houston, Texas. Audrey was born on Palm Sunday in a farmhouse in southern Kansas. She celebrated her 95th birthday in Carlsbad on Palm Sunday 2017. Audrey graduated from Kansas Teacher's College majoring in music and minoring in art. Her doctor recommended that she move to a drier climate so she took a teaching position in Roswell, NM. There she met Thomas Carter, Jr., in a Sunday school class at First Methodist Church. Tom had recently returned from serving in the U.S. Navy and was a survivor of the USS Hornet, Battle of Santa Cruz, an instrumental factor in ending WWII. Tom and Audrey eloped to Carlsbad and stayed in the La Caverna Hotel. They were married for 51 years. Audrey led a remarkable life. Her greatest joy was teaching piano and expressing her love for God through her music and playing for church choir(s) and soloists. She played popular music on the Hammond organ, did shows in the 1960s all over Carlsbad. She was a polio survivor in 1951, before the Salk vaccine was available. Her first child, Carol, was 3 years old and her second daughter, Tharon was six weeks old. Her spirit was indomitable and her courage was undeniable. Audrey was preceded in death by the love of her life, Tom, in 1998, her great-granddaughter, Sophia Osteen, age 4 in 2005, Sarah Fierro, age 26, a beloved piano student and her "adopted granddaughter" (parents: Adan and Becky Fierro). Survivors include her three children: Carol Carter Gilkison, RN of Houston, Texas, Tharon Carter Rosen of Mayhill, NM, Mark E. Carter of Carlsbad, NM; grandchildren: Jacob Sherman, Lydia J. Sherman (Carter), Matthew Ridgway, Duane and Loren Mary Carter; adopted grandson, Nathan Huffman; great-grandson, Forest Adam Carter, age 9 and great-granddaughter, Madison "Maddy" Carter, age 10. A Celebration of Life and music extravaganza featuring Dustin Tatro, organist from Abilene Texas and former students, family members and musicians from the Carlsbad community will be Wednesday, August 23, 2017, 7:00 PM at the First United Methodist Church in Carlsbad. Interment will be at 9:00 AM, Thursday, August 24, 2017 at Carlsbad Cemetery (new section). Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be expressed at dentonwood.com