Twila Mae Carter, 86, of Russell, Kansas, died on Friday, December 13, 2019, at the University Of Kansas Health Systems in Kansas City, Kansas, surrounded by her loving family.

Twila was born on April 20, 1933, in Russell, Kansas, the daughter of Pete and Teresa (Wittman) Vonfeldt.  She grew up in Russell and graduated from Russell High School in the class of 1951.  After high school she received her Associates Degree from Brown Mackie College in Salina, Kansas.  She met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Ernest L. Carter on April 18, 1953, in Salina, Kansas.  From this union Twila and Ernest were blessed with five children Barry, Jim, Debbie, Tamera and Mark.  She worked for the draft board for 3 years and the Social Security Administration for over 18 years and retired in 1996.  She was a lifelong member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Russell.  She was a member of the Daughters of Isabella and T.O.P.S..  She enjoyed gardening, fishing, gambling, cooking sewing and watching Wheel of Fortune and the Hallmark Channel on TV.  She also enjoyed working with the family during the Fourth of July at the Carter's Fireworks stand in Russell.  Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family, and she especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Surviving family include her daughters, Debbie Beck (Don) of Topeka, Kansas and Tamera Carter of Topeka, Kansas; sons, Barry Carter of Russell, Kansas, Jim Carter (Janie) of Russell, Kansas and Mark Carter (DeAnna) of Russell, Kansas; brother Don Vonfeldt of Russell, Kansas; sister Shirley Bellinder of Topeka, Kansas; 6 grandchildren, Jordan,  Ashley, Audrey, Julie (Chad), Megan and Quinn; and three great grandchildren, Avery, Adelyn  and Archer.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Ernest L. Carter on April 11, 2014, and grandson Joey Carter on June 17, 2018.

A celebration of the funeral mass will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Wednesday, December 18, 2019, at the St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Russell, Kansas.  Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. on Tuesday, December 17, 2019, at the mortuary.  A vigil and rosary will be held at 7 P.M. on Tuesday, December 17th at the St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Russell.  Memorials may be given to Daughters of Isabella and sent in care of the mortuary.  Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.