Becky Jane Wilkins-Carter

March 7, 1943 – November 26, 2016

Becky Jane Wilkins-Carter, our beloved Nana, went home to dance with the angels on Nov. 26, 2016 surrounded by the love of her children, family, and lifelong friends. She was born into this world on March 7, 1943 in Berkeley, Calif. to her adoring parents Martha and Harry Willett. The family spent a good amount of time living in various places around the Northwest before she met and married her first love, Kenneth Wilkins, on Dec. 12, 1959. Together they traveled and moved in pursuit of Kenny’s career advancement with the navy and then later into law enforcement. This brought the young couple to settle into Royal City, Wash. in 1973 where Kenny took the position of Deputy Sheriff with the Grant County Sheriff’s Department. They settled into the simple life and welcomed three beautiful children together: Mark, Melisa, and Shane. Becky and Kenny spent 31 wonderful years together before his sad passing in March of 1990.

Not long after Kenny went to be with the Lord, Becky took a job of advertiser with the Royal Review. She was incredibly gifted with her quick charm and easy smile which led her into a very successful advertising career. Becky absolutely loved working with the community and helping people reach their full potential as a business. She never met a stranger and was a pillar of her community. In July 1995, she met the second love of her life, Gary Carter, at Community Days at the Royal City Park. They married later that year on Nov. 11, 1995. Her heart expanded even more when she was able to call Paul and Lisa (Gary’s children) as her very own.

Becky committed her life to charity work and enjoyed many years of service to others. She spent 15 years on the Royal City Hospital Commission in hopes of bettering the health of her friends and family in the area. Her time was also spent volunteering in the food bank, serving the Lord in the Sunday School at church, and working as a leader with the Boy and Girl Scouts of America. She was also able to work with the children of Kid Reach and help them transform themselves into avid readers and better students. Becky tirelessly worked to help anyone who needed a hand and never turned her back on a single soul.

When she wasn’t giving of herself to others, she enjoyed taking an endless amount of family photos. As evidence of her love of family and capturing many treasured memories, her bookshelves were lined from top to bottom of all her photo albums. Each moment was cherished and memorialized through her camera lenses and in her heart. Tending to her beautiful rose bushes was also a passion of hers. All of her children and grandchildren loved spending time amongst her beautiful flowers and swinging from her huge willow tree in the back yard. Becky also believed strongly in her Lord and Savior and was a longtime member of The Nazarene Church. Her home reflected her love of the spiritual world with her huge and glorious display of all things angel related. You could also count on her daily inspiration and encouragement via her daily Facebook interactions. Social networking became her daily way of connecting with friends and family near and far during the last years of her life.

Becky’s spitfire attitude and contagious laughter will be dearly missed by all. She brought people together and we are all the better for having the pleasure of knowing her. Her robust zest for life will not soon be forgotten. Becky’s life motto of “Live, Laugh, and Love” will remain in our hearts and continue to raise our spirits in the hard times to come. She will also be remembered as often saying “Above all, give thanks to God for you are blessed in all circumstances.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Surviving family members include her brother Danny Willett of Pasco, Wash. sister Jackie Ann Flood of Biggs, Oregon and her children Mark Wilkins of Royal City, Wash., Melisa and Rod White of Moses Lake, Wash., Shane Wilkins of Aberdeen, Wash., Karren Cate of Moses Lake, Wash., Paul and Sue Carter of Richland, Wash., Lisa and Brad Waltrip of Mountain Home, Ark., and Kenny and Katie Richardson of Moses Lake, Wash. She also leaves behind 16 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Carrying on many cherished memories of her lifetime are longtime family friends the Phillips, Sather, and Covey families. She is preceded in death by her parents Martha and Harry Willett, her husbands Kenny Wilkins and Gary Carter, and her granddaughter Amanda Wilkins.

In lieu of flowers, Nana would like for everyone to pay it forward with an act of kindness. Please consider volunteering your time at a charitable organization, giving a gift from the tree of sharing, working to help families at your local food bank, or giving a monetary donation to any organization that promotes the uplifting or health and safety of women (New Hope)

A Celebration of Life will be held for Becky Wilkins-Carter at the Royal City Church of the Nazarene at 1 p.m. this Friday, Dec. 2 followed by a procession and burial ceremony at the Royal Memorial Gardens Cemetery. The family invites all of you to attend a food reception back at the church.

Please express your thoughts and memories for the family at www.nicolesfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the care of Nicoles Funeral Home of Ephrata, Wash.