Steven Ray Carter, 77, of Salem, passed away at home surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday, October 16, 2019. He was born on April 17, 1942 in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was the son of Ray Andrew Carter and Eunice Runner Carter, who was one of the first three women admitted to medical school in the history of the United States and became one of the first female doctors in the 1940's. He and his parents moved to Ohio right before his brother, John Carter, was born. He received his Bachelor of English in literature at Denison University and his Masters and PHD from Ohio State University. Steve served in the U.S. Army as a Sergeant during the Vietnam War and was discharged with high honors. He was a famous literary critic who received awards for his outstanding work on James Jones and Lorraine Hansberry. He was friend with many writers both American and foreign; especially with Terrence Malick, the director of the award winning film The Thin Red Line and also Elettra Marconi, daughter of Nobel Prize Winner for physics, Guglielmo Marconi, the father of modern technology. Steve worked at Salem State University as a professor of English and, at one point, was the Chair of the English Department. His favorite hobby was to read books, especially mysteries. He met and married his wife Maria Rita Carter in Italy.

Steve is survived by his wife, Rita, one daughter, Louisa and her husband, Tony, of Attleboro, MA and two sons, Ray and  Kenneth of Salem, MA. He also leaves behind his dear friends and colleagues with whom he was fortunate to work for over 26 years.

Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, October 23 ^rd , 2019 at the Murphy Funeral Home, 85 Federal Street, Salem MA, from 4 to 8pm. On Thursday, October 24 ^th at 1PM, burial and services will be held in Bourne, MA at the Massachusetts National Veterans Cemetery.