Yolanda Maria Carter

Yolanda was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend. Her family is from Puerto Rico but she was born and raised in New York City with a strong Catholic faith. Yolanda grew up in Manhattan between Little Italy and China Town, and was one of 4 sisters. Her father passed away when her mother was pregnant with her so her step father, Wing Kwong, a fabulous Chinese Chef, raised her as his own. She grew up in a world of many cultures being Puerto Rican, raised with Chinese influence and Littly Italy as her back yard. Growing up Yolanda and her sisters always stayed together, listening and taking to heart all the advice of their sweet and strong mom, Ernestina Cruz Kwong.

Yolanda graduated from Washington Irving High School in New York City in 1960. She told her mom and family she was going to be a Nun and go to the convent. Her mother did not want to entertain that idea, and told her the only way she was leaving the house was in a wedding dress. She told her she couldn’t hide from the world in a convent, and that she needed to live life and have children.

After high school Yolanda joined the Navy where was then stationed in Pensacola, Florida, Home of the Blue Angels. She told memories of knowing the pilots, and was even able to go on rides with them as they performed many acrobatic maneuvers and touch and goes off the air craft carriers on the ocean. Yolanda did not have a fear of heights back then and even parachuted off an airplane once.

Her duties in the Navy were in the office as an administrator. Yolanda was so very quiet and shy, but that never held her back from trying something new or meeting new people. She moved to Honolulu, Hawaii after the Navy and purchased a townhome in Ewa Beach. She found a love for dogs having her first Afghan dog, Natasha, with her always.

In her early years Yolanda had a blind double date with her sister and her boyfriend’s friend. The boyfriend’s friend, whose name was Leo Carter, just so happened to also served in the Navy. Yolanda spoke frequently about the evening meeting Leo for the first time. The two were eventually married and spent over 50 years together. They were stationed in Hawaii, Maryland, Northern and Southern California. Finally the two settled in McLoud, Oklahoma on 10 acres of land. The city girl had finally become a horse riding country girl.

Yolanda loved the country and fell in love with the peaceful country life. Here she got to own horses, her favorite horse was Bingo. She also had a passion for her 68’ mustang, it did had a bad paint job, but she was always excited for the day it would be restored.

Yolanda’s biggest joy was being a mother, and this was something she always told her children. She was a mother to 4 kids, Kimberly, Jennifer, Diron, and Kristi. They recall her never failing to let them know “You bring joy to my life”. Her children would speak of how she would talk to them about God and Jesus their entire lives. She would even pray with them before school and splash holy water from Lourdes, France on them on their way out to the bus. She was the kind of mom that made her kids feel comfortable enough to sit and talk to for hours, never failing to share her love for music and dancing.

Yolanda taught her kids, who were interested, to sew. She loved planting trees and flowers, and also cooked like crazy for her family of 6. She was an amazing cook. Her specialties included fried rice, Spanish rice and plantains. White rice was always with every meal, including chili and stew.

She was a member of Hillside Baptist Church where she attended with her family. Yolanda helped in the nursery but didn’t want to miss the message of the sermons.

Yolanda was such a light in this world and had so much love for her children, grandchildren and husband. Yolanda had a love for God and Jesus, and never lost sight of heaven and telling everyone she knew about his salvation. Thoughts of her laugh, love and sweet soul will never leave our hearts.

Yolanda was preceded in death by her parents, Ernestina Cruz Kwong and Joaquin Rivera; Step Father, Wing Kwong; Sister, Janet Heft; Nephew, Marcus Medeiros; and Brother in law, Jim Marcilla.

She is survived by her Husband, Manuel L.G Carter; Children, Kimberly Carter, Jennifer (Chad) Johnson, Diron (Ali) Carter, Kristi (Eric Helf) Carter; Grandchildren, Alexis (William) Clark, Austin Pena, Jake, Miles and Ellis Johnson, and Diron Carter. Great Grandchildren, Carter Reynolds and Stassi Clark; Sisters, Yvonne Marcilla of Albuquerque, NM, and Mei Ling Lipka of Tampa, Florida; As well as numerous Nieces, Nephews, Great-Nieces and Great-Nephews.

Visitation will be at Memorial Park Funeral Home on Tuesday, July 26th, 2022 from 4:00 – 8:00 pm.

A funeral service will be held for Yolanda on Wednesday, July 27th, 2022 at 10:00 am at Memorial Park Funeral Home located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with burial to follow at Jamison Cemetery in Harrah, Oklahoma. The United States Navy Honors team will render Military Honors at the graveside service.

Serving as pallbearers are Eric Helf, Diron Carter, Gaetano Cipriano, Chad Johnson, Ali Carter and Jake Johnson.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemorialParkOKC.com for the Carter family.