Saltville, Va. Thomas McKinley Carter, Jr. "Tom", age 49, passed away Tuesday, August 24, 2021 at Johnston Memorial Hospital, Abingdon, Va. He was preceded in death by his father, Thomas M. Carter, Sr.; grandparents, Liburn "LW" and Evelyn Frye and Raymond and Bessie Carter; uncles, Butch Carter, Carl Carter, Billy Carter, Jimmy Carter, and Charles Carter. Tom is survived by the love of his life, Lorie Haley-Ewing and son Noah; mother, Diana Carter and fiancé Roger Allison; sister Tonya Montgomery and husband Lloyd; very special nephew and niece Matthew and Annie Montgomery and Michael Frye who was like a nephew; stepson, Jordan Jackson; special aunt, Barbara Craig and cousins, Missy (Michael) and Maya Newman; special friends, Shawn Selecman, Wayne Carter, and Preston Frye; a numerous other family and friends; his numerous students whom he loved as his own; the staff of NHS who was like family and took such good care of Tom. The family would also like to give thanks to his donors and their families. In your great loss, you gave us a few more years with Tom. A memorial and celebration of life service will be held Friday, August 27,2021 at 7:00 p.m. at Commons Grounds, Saltville, Va. with Pastor Stan Dunham officiating, This is a quote from Laura Ingalls Wilder that Tom Loved: "Remember me with smiles and laughter. For that is how I will remember you all. If you can only remember me with tears, then don't remember me at all." A special thank you goes to the staff at the UVA Lung Transplant Center. They all showered Tom and his family with love. For that, we are grateful. In Lieu of flowers, please make donations to one of the following charities that were dear to his heart: UVA Transplant Center Patient Assistance Fund, P. O. Box 800265, Charlottesville, Va. This fund provides accommodation for transplant patients and families during their lengthy stays. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 4550 Montgomery Avenue Ste 100, Bethesda, MD 20814. St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thompson Pl. Memphis, TN 38105. Online condolences may be expressed at drhendersonfuneralhome.com. The D. R. Henderson Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Thomas McKinley Carter, Jr. family.