Alice Gail Carlton

Mrs. Alice Gail Carlton, age 71, of Blairsville, Georgia, passed away as a result of Lou Gehrigs Disease (ALS) on Thursday, January 24, 2008, at her home in Blairsville. Mrs. Carlton was born Friday, November 6, 1936 in Tower City, Pennsylvania, to the late Richard Jeremiah Paul and the late Elma Katura Carl Paul. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Blairsville, and was preceded in death by her parents, Richard Jeremiah Paul and Elma Katura Carl Paul.

Alice Carlton's life may best be remembered by the footprints she left on the many trails of her earthly existence. Sometimes the footprints betrayed her physical limitations, following many, many surgeries on her knees after a fall. Sometimes they slowed while she bore the agony of Lou Gehrig's Disease so valiantly. The never, ever faltered in her service to her God, her family, and her friends.

Her trail of family and community begins in the small village of Tower City, Pennsylvania where her dad had worked in coal mines as a young man, then continued to Harrisburg as her dad sought better opportunites in providing for his young family. She grained her formal schooling there, and entered the world of business, where she discovered her artistic talents and her ability to select retail items of great beauty. Then the footprints parallel those of a young baseball player, her first husband, Tom Morgan, with stops all over the east, south and Midwest, and finally ending in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania after his baseball career ended. Her Morgan children were born along this trail on the various stops. After suffering the pains of a failed marriage in Bethlehem, she met her love, Tom Carlton, and expanded the family to include Tom and the Carlton children. Tom was a Florida native, and the path soon turned south to his native land, and they settled in the small town of Wauchula, Florida for many years. Tom's business career dictated a move to Valrico, Florida (near Tampa) for a number of years, and then to Winter Springs, Florida (near Orlando) before turning towards the beautiful mountains of Blairsville, Georgia, where the footsteps end but the legacy continues.

Her trail of faith begins in Pennsylvania, with early learning of our Lord in an Evangelical United Brethren (EUB) church, which later merged with the Methodists to become the United Methodist Church. These footsteps take her through many turns on the pathway to her salvation and several differences in denomination, always with emphasis the similarities in our faith, rather than the differences. Alice happily and willingly served her Lord in the many different churches, which included EUB, United Methodist, Presbyterian, Southern Baptist, and non-denominational. Her focus was always on the truth of God's word, never on denominational differences. Alice led many people to a faith in Christ with her servant spirit, which included Tom and many children and adults. She enjoyed teaching others to make beautiful decorative items with their hands while teaching them about the love of God. Many of her beautiful wreaths will be enjoyed by friends as a lasting remembrance of her gift. Her witness by example and action was always so obvious.

The footprints along the trail of her family were her pride and her joy. Tom and Alice decided at the time of their marriage that no children in their merged family would ever be viewed as step-children, and this gang of seven grew up with equal love. The love that these seven young adults now share with each other as well as their own families is a lasting legacy to Alice, or Nan, as she is called by the multitude of wonderful grandchildren. Alice's family has always been her pride, her joy and her focus, and deepening these footsteps by instilling a love of Christ has been her aim. She leaves her family behind with the full assurance that Christ is welcoming her with open arms, proclaiming "Well done, my good and faithful servant!"

Alice, Mom, Nan, the clearly marked footprints along the trail that you left for us will make you easy to find, as those you loved so much come to join you later.

Survivors include: husband, Tom Carlton of Blairsville; son, Mike Morgan of Arlington, Texas; son, Thom Morgan of Greensboro, Georgia; son, Steve Carlton of Orlando, Florida; son, Rev. Dr. Jeff Morgan of Barnesville, Georgia; son, Mark Carlton of Washington's Crossing, Pennsylvania; daughter, Paula Carroll of Winter Springs, Florida; son, Todd Carlton of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; sister, Shirley Earnest of Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania; sister, Betty Grabbe of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; brother, Rich Paul of Temecula, California; 18 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren also survive, along with many friends.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, February 2, 2008 at 11 A.M., from the First Baptist Church Of Blairsville with the Dr. Fred Lodge, Rev. Dr. Jeff Morgan, and Minister Debbie Weisemann officiating.

The family will receive friends at First Baptist Church of Blairsville for one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations may be made to your choice: First Baptist Church of Blairsville Benevolence Fund; Emory University ALS Center; Muscular Distrophy Association; or to Regency Hospice.

Arrangements entrusted to Cochran Funeral Home and Crematory of Blairsville, Georgia. You may send condolences to the family and sign the guest register at www.cochranfuneralhomes.com.