Powhatan "Pow" Carter, III, 76, a lifelong resident of Fort Sumner, NM, passed away on July 22, 2026, in Amarillo, TX, following an illness. Pow was born on November 1, 1949, in Fort Sumner, NM, to Powhatan Jr. and Beverly Carter. Pow grew up on the family ranch north of Fort Sumner. He graduated from Fort Sumner High School in 1967, where he was active in football, basketball, track, Future Farmers of America, Boys State, and rodeo. Rodeo was a passion for Pow, and he won the American Junior Rodeo Association All-Round title in 1969. Through rodeo, Pow continued his education at South Plains College and Texas Tech University, where he was the president of the rodeo club and won numerous rodeos and accolades. Pow graduated from Texas Tech in 1972 with a degree in Animal Science before he hit the road on the professional rodeo circuit. In 1977, Pow qualified in tie-down roping for the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City, winning several rounds. Having completed this major accomplishment, Pow returned to the ranch to take over operations and continue his love of the western way of life. He continued to rope and put on team roping series with Flash Roping Productions. Pow was the happiest horseback riding out on the ranch to work cattle. Always ready to help his friends and neighbors with brandings and fall gathering, Pow was just a call away.
Pow was very active in his community and enjoyed supporting the residents of De Baca County and eastern New Mexico. Pow was a county commissioner, member of the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association, New Mexico Farm Bureau, De Baca County Fair Buyers Club, and served for 27 years on the Plateau Telecommunication Board. Pow was also a man of strong faith who served as a Sunday school teacher, deacon, and later an elder of the Fort Sumner Church of Christ.
Family was the other area of Pow's life that he was very proud of. In 1976, Pow was introduced to Miss Rodeo New Mexico Renee Keilt at a team roping clinic in Clovis, NM, and he decided to ask her out after taking off for a quick two weeks on the rodeo road. Pow and Renee married on November 26, 1976. This started 50 years of adventures in rodeoing, raising horses and cattle, and raising two children, Erin and Price, on the ranch. He loved being Dad and later "PowPow" to his grandchildren. Pow was always the biggest fan and yelled loudly at every football and basketball game, track meet, rodeo, horse show, school event, or anything else his family might be involved in. Win or lose, there was always ice cream or some sweet concoction following all family activities.
Pow was preceded in death by his parents, Powhatan Jr. and Beverly Carter. He is survived by his wife, Renee, of the home; children Erin (Matthew) Smith of Tucumcari and Powhatan Price Carter of Clovis; grandchildren Ashton Smith, Carter Smith, Powhatan Lane Carter, and Kate Carter; as well as siblings Beverly Anne (Charlie) Overton and Rodney (Dawn) Carter, numerous nieces and a nephew, and cousins.
Visitation will be held, Tuesday, July 28, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Chavez Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 am Wednesday, July 29, 2026 at the Fort Sumner Church of Christ with Mr. John Dansby officiating. Interment will follow in the Carter family plot, Fort Sumner Cemetery. Pallbearers will include Lane Carter, Carter Smith, Matthew Smith, Cole Gardner, Ryan McCollum, and Jake Rodgers. Honorary Pallbearers are George Harvick, Bobby Hungate, Pete Glascock, JJ Rydburg, Jim Koontz, Ab Hendley, Jr., Guy Wayne Horney, Bob Moorehouse, Rufus Campbell, Doug Johnson, Randel Mansell, Tom Oliver, Gary Good, Larry Reagan, Scott Lewis, Willie Patterson, Knox Cortese, Benji Jay, Tom Bob Wilton, Shane Voss, lifelong friends and neighbors, and members of the Plateau/ENMR Board and employees.
