Phillip John Carter, 33, of Salem, NH passed away on June 16th from injuries sustained in a tragic motor vehicle accident.

Phill was born on March 15th, 1982 in Somerville, MA to Helaine Donnerstag and Peter Carter. He grew up on Cape Cod and graduated from Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School. He later attended Sterling College in Craftsbury Common, VT and it was there that he met the love of his life and future fiancée, Melinda Nutter, in January 2003. The pair was inseparable ever since.

Phill and his beloved eventually moved back to her hometown of Salem, NH and they purchased a house there in August of 2006. Their home became their sanctuary and favorite place to spend their spare time, along with a cat they adopted together, affectionately and appropriately named Kitten.

Phill worked for many years at Salemhaven Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center, but most recently was working alongside his fiancée at Mahoney's Garden Center in Tewksbury, MA. He was a valued employee, loved by both customers and staff alike and always going above and beyond, whether mending a leaking hose or teaching people how to safely operate equipment.

Phill enjoyed the natural world around him and he loved exploring it with his fiancée. When they weren’t working in the outdoors, they were playing in it. They enjoyed mountain biking, hiking and rafting in NH's beautiful forests and rivers. They also had an affinity for thrill rides and water park adventures up north.

Phill was also a talented musician and an excellent singer. He was classically trained to play the violin but could play many musical instruments including the guitar, mandolin and keyboard. He spent countless hours singing, playing music and dancing.

Not only was Phill gifted musically, but he also had a knack and love for technology. He would play computer, video, and IQ games because he loved a challenge and was always trying out new games to "keep his brain young".

Phill was always grateful for the love and support given to him by his fiancée and her family and together they shared countless and wonderful memories for over a decade. He was an amazing man whose life was cut too short while in his prime. Phill will be remembered for many things, especially his beautiful smile, infectious laugh, quick wit, and never sweating the small stuff in life.

Phill leaves behind his fiancée Melinda, mother Helaine, father Pete, sisters Allison and Caitlin, brother Brian, as well as Melinda's parents Emily and Nelson, Melinda's brother Nelson and his wife Erin and their son Owen.

In honor of Phill and the many life lessons he taught us all, please remember to be kind to one another, hold the ones you love extra tight and always say "I love you" to each other every day.

A Gathering to Remember Phillip Carter will take place on Thursday, July 2nd from 3-7pm at Castleton Banquet and Conference Center in Windham, NH. All are welcome to attend.

The Phillip J Carter Trust has been established in his honor at the Service Credit Union bank in Salem, account # 27551342.

To leave an online condolence, please visit www.goundreydewhirstfuneral.com or facebook.com/GoundreyDewhirstFuneral

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