Matt Carte

William Matthew "Matt" Carte, 54, of Plainfield, Indiana, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones at home on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. He was born on April 5, 1972, in Indianapolis to the late John Wansba Carte and Esther Jane (Hess) Carte. Growing up in Mooresville as one of four children, Matt attended Mooresville High School with the class of 1990. He proudly enlisted in the Army National Guard in 1991 and served his country for 21 years, attaining the rank of Sergeant First Class. He served during Operation Noble Eagle, guarding the Indianapolis Airport and Stout Field following the events of September 11. He was deployed to Iraq in 2008 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was also briefly deployed to Germany. His family remembers him as an American hero whose dedication to his country was matched only by his devotion to them. Matt met the love of his life at the beauty shop his sister was working at when her coworker, Christina Herbstreit, quite literally fell for him. He got her number and then a year later they were engaged on Valentine’s Day. They married the following month on March 13, 1993, and shared more than 33 wonderful years together filled with love, laughter, adventure, and countless memories with their three children. They treasured yearly family vacations to Florida and also made time for various other family trips throughout the years—Holiday World on the kids’ summer breaks, Disney World, Disneyland, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Las Vegas, San Diego Zoo, Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon, Cancún, Cozumel, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and more. Whether traveling or simply spending time together at home, Matt's happiest moments were those spent with the people he loved most. From a young age, Matt developed the strong work ethic, loyalty, and practical skills that would define his life. He spent the past ten years with RJE Business Interiors, where he served as a furniture installation supervisor. Prior to that, he was a Force Protection security officer at Stout Field for the state of Indiana, and a security guard and locksmith for Rolls-Royce. No matter where he worked, Matt naturally became the supervisor. He was a dependable, well-admired leader who could always be counted on to get the job done and who took excellent care of anyone in his charge. A boy scout, Matt was an avid outdoorsman with a love for deer hunting, fishing, and camping. He enjoyed bonfires with friends, attending concerts, listening to music with the windows down and the volume up, watching movies, and playing video games. He loved watching the History Channel—for real history programs, but also for his favorite, Ancient Aliens. He was a true jack of all trades, gifted with an incredible ability to fix almost anything. If it was broken, he could figure out how to repair it. He was a collector of all things. His passions, interests, and talents are all passed down to his kids in one way or another, a testament to what an incredible father he was. He was a member of American Legion Post 103 and attended Eternal Life Baptist Church in Mooresville. More than anything, Matt will be remembered for the man he was. He was funny, loyal, hardworking, and fiercely protective of those he loved. He was the anchor that held his family together, the person everyone turned to for advice, wisdom, and steady guidance. Reliable, knowledgeable, and a man of few words, he believed in thinking before speaking. His quiet strength, unwavering dependability, and generous heart left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him. His legacy of love, service, and steadfast devotion will live on in the hearts of his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him. He was truly one of a kind. Though he will be deeply missed, the lessons he taught, the memories he created, and the love he shared will remain forever. Matt leaves behind his best friend and soul mate, Christina E. “Chris” Carte of Plainfield; children, Michael Reyes-Carte (Edwin) of Plainfield, Shawn Carte of Mooresville, and Kaylee Carte of Plainfield; siblings, John Carte (Hana), M. Elliot Carte, and Sheila Helton all of Mooresville; sister-in-law Toni Scully of Plainfield; mother-in-law Sandra Herbstreit of Plainfield; nieces and nephews, Tyneka Horvath, Thomas Gibson, Chelsey Lethig, and Daniel Carte all of Mooresville, Sarah Branham of Olney, IL, Heather Cook of Martinsville, and Olivia Scully of Indianapolis; along with many great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Esther Jane (Hess) Carte and father, John Wansba Carte of Mooresville, and father-in-law Eugene F. Herbstreit Jr. of Plainfield. Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to Light Memorial & Funeral Chapel in Monrovia. To honor Matt’s incredible life, a public visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, from 4:00pm until 8:00pm and Thursday, August 6, from 1:00pm until 2:00pm. Funeral services will start promptly at 2:00pm on Thursday, August 6. Graveside services will follow at White Lick Cemetery in Mooresville. Memorial contributions may be made to Matt’s family to help offset his final expenses c/o Light Memorial & Funeral Chapel, 585 E Main St, Monrovia, IN 46157, and envelopes will be provided during services. The family requests that flowers and gifts be ordered through Bud & Bloom, (317) 831-3333. To share a favorite story, send an online condolence to the family, or light a candle in his memory, please visit his tribute page at www.lightmemorial.com.

Tributes

Matt Carte

April 5, 1972 - July 29, 2026