Daniel Lee Carder

Daniel Lee Carter was born Jan. 31, 1946, in Fresno, Calif., to Sally Spade. He was later adopted by Johnny Carter and took his name. 

He spent the majority of his younger years in Republic, Wash. Dan and his family then moved to Soap Lake at the age of 10 and he attended the remainder of his school years there. He was a standout player on both the football and basketball teams and graduated from Soap Lake High School in 1966. 

After high school, he found adventure in the American Southwest. He was part of the road crew that connected the Gila National Park to the Gila cliff dwellings. 

Soon after, he returned home to the Pacific Northwest where he worked for Farmway and then Freer Chevrolet in Quincy. He learned the trade of a mechanic through many hours of hard work and became a well-respected mechanic in the area. He decided to take the leap and open his own business when he opened The Shop in Ephrata in 1980. 

He met the love of his life, Joan Weinand, while out drinking and carousing at the Moose Lodge in Quincy in 1985. 

They were married May 26, 1995, in Republic. 

Dan was an avid car and motorcycle racer. He spent most of his Saturdays in his 20s and 30s racing or flagging at Ephrata Speedway. His love of all things that went fast has been a constant thread throughout his life. 

He loved to fish, especially near his childhood home in Republic. He taught his wife how to fish and soon regretted it as she out-fished him on a regular basis. 

He retired and sold The Shop in 2019. He and his bride of almost thirty years enjoyed their retirement by traveling to the Southwest every year and visiting their daughter, Sunshine, husband Jeremy and two granddaughters in Aurora, Colo.

He died a peaceful death in his sleep Sept. 15, 2024. 

He is survived by Joan Weinand Carter, his wife of 30 years, his daughter, Sunshine (Jeremy) of Aurora, Colo., stepdaughter Sarah Evans of Renton, Wash., and four grandchildren, Dawson, 15, Sunah, 15, Reagan, 12, and Seraphina, 11. 

His memorial service will be held at Nicole’s Funeral Home in Ephrata, Wash., on Sept., 30 at 11 a.m. with a reception to follow.