Richard "Jay" Dale Carter Jr., age 65, of Idlewild, MI passed away on Saturday, November 5, 2022 at Spectrum Health Reed City Hospital in Reed City, Mi.  Mr. Carter was born on May 10, 1957 in Breckenridge, MI to Richard Dale Carter Sr. and Shirley Ann (Roach) Carter.  He attended High School at Houghton Lake High School in Houghton Lake, MI.  On June 28, 1986, he married Annette Renee Collins in LaGrange, IN.  Jay was one of the founding employees of Dutch Housing and Redman Homes in LaGrange, IN.  He also helped start the Hot N Now restaurant in Sturgis, MI.  Jay was an avid NASCAR and dirt track racing fan.  He enjoyed fishing, listening to music, cooking and grilling.  Jay was a skilled woodworker and always known to be a jokester.  He loved his grandchildren dearly and spending time with his best friend and canine companion, Buddy.

Survivors include: Wife, Annette Carter of Idlewild, MI. Daughter, April McCarthy- Bender of Toledo, OH. Daughter, Valurie Mettler and Chet Waldron of LaGrange, IN. Daughter, Julia Parsley and Randy Clark of Idlewild, MI. Daughter, Roxanne and Derek Johnson of Bristol, IN. Grandchildren, Zoey, Nick, Ollie, Xavior, Hailey, Annemarie, Aubrey, Nevaeh, Drayke, Zandor, D.J., Bella, Link, Dustin, Riley, and Monkey. Brother, Dwayne and Kathy Carter of Breckenridge, MI. Brother-in-law, Ken Hall of Houghton Lake, MI. Richard was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, mother-in-law, Janet Myers, granddaughter, Bailey Mettler, and sister, Pam Hall.

Funeral service will be held on Sunday, November 13, 2022 at 3:00pm with calling 1 hour prior from 2:00pm-3:00pm at Hess Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 603 South Detroit Street, LaGrange, IN 46761

Cremation will take place following the services.

Memorial donations may be directed to the Ronald McDonald House.

To sign the online guestbook, visit www.hessfuneralhome.com or find us on www.facebook.com

Arrangements and care trusted to Hess Funeral Home and Cremation Services of LaGrange, IN.