Michael L. Carter, 73, of Carrollton, passed away peacefully on  Sunday, September 23, 2012, at his home.  The family will be receiving  friends at Gibson Funeral Home, 201 South Main, Carrollton, Mo., on  Sunday, September 30, from 3 to 4 p.m.  A memorial service will be  held at the funeral home on Sunday, September 30, at 4 p.m. with  Reverend Williams officiating.

He was born in Lawrence, Kansas.  He graduated Shawnee Mission High  School and attended Kansas State University.  He was an avid farmer  with properties in Shawnee and Everest, Kansas.  He enjoyed traveling  with his wife of 54 years, Carol.  But perhaps his true hobby was  radio.  He started his career in the 1960s at 940 AM KIOA in Des  Moines, Iowa.  He was also employed at KMBZ in Kansas City.  Mike and  fellow KMBZ employee Bill Bilyeu then decided to form their own radio  station in Hiawatha, Kansas. KNZA went on the air in August of 1977.   He came to Carrollton in 1981 and purchased KAOL AM & FM in 1983.   Four years later the FM was re-branded as KMZU ?The Farm.?  He bought  and owned WHB in Kansas City from 1993 to 1999.  Around that same  time, KANZA Communications acquired 93.5 FM KTRX in Tarkio.  In 1996,  he formed a new station ? 103.9 FM KRLI.  He spent his retirement  years compiling music to pass on to this, and future, generations.

He is survived by his soul mate and devoted wife, Carol; his loving  son, Miles Carter and his wife, Marsha; four loving daughters,  Christina Kiehl, Anita Mertz and her husband, Keith, Lynn Hammond and  her husband, Russ, and Kathleen Kirzeder; 28 grandchildren and 9 great  grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Suzann Maloney.  He  was preceded in death by his daughter, Carrie Miller, his father,  Houston Carter, and his mother Fern R. Stone.

Memorials are suggested to the St. Jude?s Children?s Hospital or  H.E.L.P. Services Cancer Fund.