A lifelong Texan, Nina was raised in Dallas, close to her cousins and grandmother. She married out of high school and had three children. In January of 1981, she married the love of her life, Tommy Bennett.
Nina was predeceased by her mother, Doris Rees; brother, Mike; and father, W.A. Carter. Nina lived in Arizona, Nevada, Oklahoma, Kansas and Wisconsin, but she came home to Texas. Nina worked as a mortgage underwriter, making friends which she was always so good at wherever she went. She and Tommy toured in a motorhome, going to chili cook-offs, visiting family and friends. She won first place at the Ladies State Competition in 2000 in Luckenbach and won awards for her beans and was famous for her banana pudding. In her mid 50s, Nina earned an associates degree from Brookhaven College. During that time, she tutored young people in math, which she was very proud of. She also became the tallymaster for Tolbert Chili competitors, a demanding position, which she held for several years. Eventually, Nina and Tommy settled in Ingram. Again, she adapted quickly and made new friends, becoming the social director at the Ingram Oaks clubhouse. Nina loved football, University of Texas, burnt orange, cooking, her beloved dogs, Dairy Queen, mystery novels and striking up conversations with everyone she met.
She is survived by a boatload of people, including her husband, Tommy Bennett; sister, Annette Carter Anderson of Flower Mound, Texas; children, Phillip Minter of Rowlett, Texas, Donna Gallagher of Concord, Va., and Steven Minter of Magnolia, Texas; grandchildren, Amanda Gallagher of Alamogordo, N.M., Jace Gallagher of Katy, Texas, Randy Gallagher of Concord, Va., Danny Minter of Rowlett, Texas, Nikki Minter of Dallas, Texas, Krystin Owens of Porum, Okla., Jacob Minter of Houston, Texas, and Steven and Seth Minter of Magnolia, Texas; and great-grandchildren, Ellie and Ashlyn Gallagher and Brice, Alyssa and William Owens. She was raised with cousins Mary Seay and Rees Walker; Seay family; Walker family and Carter family.
Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, July 26, 2013, at Wrights Funeral Parlor in Kerrville.
