Samuel Edward Carter, Jr.

Sam Carter, born May 8,1960, passed away at his home on April 1, 2026. He was surrounded by family and love.

Just about anyone that met Sam, liked him immediately. He was shy and quiet but once he got to know you, he would have you laughing harder than ever. There was no kinder, sweeter man than Sam.

A jack of all trades including carpentry, electrical, and mechanics, among many other things. He loved to work with his hands and to figure out what made things work, ride his bike with his best friend Greg, and build things, even if they didn't always make sense! He loved trying to come up with toys to build for his grandkids before he got too sick to build them. He also loved woodworking. He made some beautiful wood pieces and loved fishing.

He and his wife, Yvonne, were married just one month shy of thirty-five years as well as his 66th birthday.

Sam battled a relentless disease called Mucosal Melanoma. And as painful as this loss is for us all, we know he is now cancer-free.

He is preceded in death by his father, Samuel E. Carter, Sr. and niece, Ashley Cates.

Survived by his mother, Rose Marie (Smith) Carter; loving wife, Yvonne "Vonnie" Carter; son, Christopher Clayton (Kayleigh); daughters, Shana Williams (Michael) and Samantha Norcio (Matt); grandchildren, Katelin Whitlow (Nathan), Joshua Williams (Hannah), Violet Norcio, Magnolia Clayton, Sully Clayton, Heather, Mike and Katy; great-grandchildren, Harper and Hadley; nephews who were like his own sons, David Cates, Aaron Morris and Jacob Morris.

A Memorial gathering will be held on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Companion Funeral Home, 6018 John Douglas Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37421, from 4:00 P.M.-8:00 P.M.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mucosal Melanoma Research.