Janet Elaine Meyer Carter

Janet Elaine Meyer Carter, devoted mother and grandmother passed away in her sleep at her home in Galveston, TX on Thursday, the 5th of December 2024. She was 75 years of age. Janet was born on the 13th of January 1949 in Texas City, TX to Marie Frances Braden Meyer & Howard William Meyer. Janet grew up in La Marque, TX with her boisterous family of 6. The Meyers spent much time at their family’s farm in Catspring, TX. Janet’s sweet parents, grandparents and great grandparents all grew up near Catspring, TX as part of a German immigrant community. Her grandparents Gertrude & Hubert Braden instilled a love of the outdoors with her grandmother’s vibrant garden filled with fresh vegetables, farm with crops of watermelons, cantaloupe, peanuts and corn, livestock, fresh milk and butter, chickens, and most of all - a love of cooking from scratch. Janet attended Queen of Peace Catholic School, La Marque Junior High, and La Marque High School. She attended the University of Houston and graduated with 3 degrees in 3 years – English, Spanish, History. After graduation, Janet taught school at Ryan Junior High in Houston, TX. She was an avid reader throughout her life, devouring multiple books per day, often reading them 2-3 times. Janet married William Carter in 1967. She loved the area near Rice University and after attending a Rice Football game decided that she was determined to live in the area. Janet and Bill bought a home in Southside Place in 1971. Janet taught school and Bill worked as an auditor at Getty Oil. They had two girls – Tracy Marie in 1973 and Alexandra (Alexa) Elaine in 1974. Never one to sit still, Janet continued her education earning her real estate broker’s license. As a real estate broker, she learned of a paint store in downtown West University Place for sale and bought it. She, her sister Joanie, & then husband William Carter, opened the Edloe St. Café and Deli in 1978. Janet and Joanie’s gift of cooking came from their mother. Many of the recipes originated from Marie Meyer. Janet poured her love into her food, family, and her customers. Often counseling those customers at the register. Discovering she had a knack for counseling and a love of learning, Janet decided to go back to school at Houston Baptist University earning a master’s degree in psychology and LPC certification in November of 1992 while continuing to run the restaurant. She also managed to design & contract 2 beach houses in Spanish Grant along with many remodeling projects during her down time! Janet raised her family in an idyllic setting in West University Place and Southside Place. She was much loved for her restaurant and entertaining. She enjoyed many social and professional organizations as well as giving back to her community. She taught bible study in her neighborhood as well as at church. Janet joined the Ladies of Lunch Bunch in 1974 shortly after her second daughter was born. She was also a member of the West University Women’s book club. In 1985 Janet joined the West University Rotary Club & then the Houston Culinary Guild. Janet & the Edloe Deli was featured in many articles, most proudly in the Houston Chronicle written by food critic Ann Criswell, Edloe St. Holiday Enchiladas. Janet, her family and her community always loved the local JMH #5 Grocery Store in West University Place. In 1999, Janet bought the store from the original owners. She continued to run the grocery store with its charming charge accounts and added prepared foods and even a small cooking school for children. Janet enjoyed this time but eventually sold the grocery store and then retired from the restaurant in 2008. Janet was proud of her German family roots. She hosted several Braden Family Reunions and then passed on this love to her daughters Tracy and Alexa. As the owner of small business in the Hospitality & Food Industry, Janet often reminded her daughters how far women had come from when she started her restaurant with her sister. In the early 1970’s women were encouraged to become teachers, nurses, or secretaries – not owners of businesses especially not the food industry. Through out Janet’s life she had a great love of history and travel, particularly international trips. Most notably upon her retirement in 2008, she went on a cruise down the Nile River in Egypt. A dream she had had since reading the first of many Agatha Christy novels. Janet and her family traveled to London, Paris, Mexico, Canada and all over the United States. She loved touring historic homes and monuments. Janet spent her later years at her homes in Santa Fe, NM, Houston, TX and Galveston, TX. Janet is survived by her children Alexandra (Alexa) Carter Burrow and her husband Gordon Burrow and her daughter Tracy Carter Cowan. Grandchildren Lainey, Sophie, and Scott Burrow. Janet is also survived by older sister Anne Bailey, younger sister Joan Meyer, younger brother Robert Meyer and his wife Barbara Meyer and numerous nieces & nephews. Family and friends are invited to celebrate Janet’s life at 10:00 a.m., on Monday, January 13, 2025, at St. Anne Catholic Church, 2140 Westheimer Road in Houston, Texas 77098. All are invited to a reception immediately following the Mass.

Janet Elaine Meyer Carter

January 13, 1949 - December 5, 2024