- Date Of Birth: July 29, 1928
- Date Of Death: September 14, 2017
- State: Florida
James Earl Carter
1928-2017
James Earl Carter MD, 89, passed away peacefully in Melbourne, Florida, on Thursday, September 14, 2017. Jim was born in Peshtigo, Wisconsin to Dr. Earl and Irene Carter on July 29, 1928. As a young man he excelled in all sports and was active in the Boy Scouts achieving Eagle Scout. After graduating Peshtigo High School, Jim enrolled at the University of Wisconsin in Madison
Blessed with athletic ability, he spent three years from 1946 to 1949 playing basketball under legendary coach Bud Foster. He completed his undergraduate studies while helping the Badgers claim the 1947 Big Ten title and advance to the NCAA quarterfinals.
He enrolled at Marquette University School of Medicine in Milwaukee graduating in 1955 and completed his internship and orthopedic residency at Milwaukee County Hospital. He went on to serve four years as an Air Force surgeon at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi during which time he completed an advanced hand surgery degree program.
Taking advantage of the opportunity to work with established orthopedic surgeon Dr. Glen Musselman at the recently opened Cape Canaveral Hospital, Carter and his family moved to Brevard County in 1965. Dr. Carter became recognized as a preeminent orthopedic surgeon and rose to prominence as a hospital leader. From 1972 to 1977, he was chief of staff at Cape Canaveral Hospital and served 25 years on the Board of Directors of CCH. Dr. Carter’s dedication to his patients and profession was legendary. After he retired in 2012, he continued to volunteer his time at Brevard Health Alliance and the Brevard County Health Department.
Dr. Carter is survived by his wife of 62 years Joan, his brother Daniel (Jane) and is preceded in death by his brother William (Amber) and beloved granddaughter Sara Barton. Jim is also survived by his six children Virginia Barton, Jackie Smith (Steve), James (Patty), Jody, John, and Joseph (Alexandra) and his much loved grandchildren Jessica, Emma, and Chloe.
