Mary “Charlene” (Carter) Broughton was born on October 26, 1927, in Commerce, OK, to James Franklin Carter and Mamie Isabell (Davidson) Carter. She passed away at the Community Springs Healthcare Facility on December 30, 2015, at the age of eighty-eight.
Charlene was the youngest of five children; her older brothers were “Lucien” Franklin, James “Marvin”, William “Noble”, and John “Lavon”. She and her family lived in Commerce and Grove OK until 1937 when they moved to El Dorado Springs, MO, where they opened Carter’s Market. The Carter children and several grandchildren worked in the store, which was in business for forty-two years.
Charlene graduated from El Dorado Springs High School where she was involved in band, choir, and basketball. On October 8, 1950, she married Kenneth (Steve) Broughton. They were married sixty-one years and have one daughter, LaDanta (Broughton) Bush. Shortly after marriage, they moved to Kansas City, MO, where Steve worked for General Motors and Charlene worked for the Cook Chemical Company. In 1951, they moved back to El Dorado Springs where Charlene began working at Sac Osage Electric in the office. She retired from there after thirty-six years of employment. After their retirement, Charlene and Steve enjoyed traveling. They toured several countries in Europe, and also visited Hawaii, Australia, Alaska, New Zealand, and Carribbean Islands.
Charlene became a Christian and was baptized at the age of sixteen at the First Baptist Church in El Dorado Springs, MO. She had a deep love for her church and for music. She sang in the church choir, and in many duets and trios. She was also music leader for the church’s ministry team which led services at the Community Springs Healthcare Facility for thirty-eight years. She was a member of the “Sweet Adelines’ singing group and played the clarinet in the El Dorado Springs Municipal Band for over forty years.
Charlene was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, husband, and two nephews.
She is survived by her daughter, LaDanta Bush and husband Mike, of El Dorado Springs, MO; grandchildren, Amber Beltram and husband Brandon, Rodney Bush and wife Danielle, Alicia, and Lori; great grandchildren, Mikah and Emma Beltram, Arianna and Owen Bush, Paityn and Audrey Bland, Weston, Kaylee, and Katelyn Wallace; several nieces and nephews, and many special friends.
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