LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Stephen Christopher Carter, 48, of Hidden Valley Lake, Calif., passed away on April 19, 2015.

Stephen was born in New York City on May 27, 1966. He was the third child of Paul and Elizabeth Carter.

Stephen spent most of his childhood in New Jersey. He had great memories of summers on Cape Cod with his family. He enjoyed many years as a camper at Winona in Maine and had fond recollections of good friends and camp traditions.

After graduating from Ridgewood High School in New Jersey, Stephen attended Amherst College in Massachusetts, where he received a bachelor's degree in history.

Stephen worked as a paralegal in New York City for a year before attending Pepperdine University School of Law in Malibu, Calif.

He immediately tried surfing and bought a motorcycle. His love of motorcycling would last throughout his life.

After three years of riding canyon and beach roads on his motorcycle and studying law, Stephen obtained his Juris Doctor degree.

At the end of his third year of law school, Stephen met his wife, Angela. It was love at first sight.

Angela moved to Northern California after law school and Stephen immediately followed. They lived in Santa Rosa, Calif., while they studied for the bar exam.

Every weekend they would travel to Lake County to visit Angela's family. Stephen loved the Lake County landscape and the natural beauty that surrounded him in the Middletown area.

After Stephen and Angela were married, they relocated to Lake County. Stephen adopted a hunting dog named Dixie, trained her himself and hunted the hillsides of Lake County.

After passing the bar, Stephen volunteered at the Lake County District Attorney's Office. Shortly after, he was offered a job at that office.

After a few years at the district attorney's office, his heart led him to become a defense attorney. He spent the rest of his career defending people charged with crimes.

Stephen served as the administrator for the Lake County indigent defense system for many years. He loved the Constitution and believed that everyone, rich or poor, had a right to a zealous defense. He loved helping people.

Stephen was a loyal and devoted father to his beautiful daughter, Julianne Marie. They enjoyed taking rain walks, sharing their love of history and literature, playing dolls, going to Disneyland, playing board games (especially chess), and spending time together on Daddy-Daughter Night every week.

Stephen helped nurture his daughter’s love of music by taking her to many live performances and sharing his enthusiasm for music with her at every opportunity.

Stephen had a great sense of humor, a generous heart and a ready smile. He enjoyed reading, history, music, baking pumpkin pies, hiking and traveling.

Stephen is survived by his wife of 20 years, Angela; his daughter and “Lil' Bunny,” Julianne; his father, Paul; his siblings, Catherine and Michael; his nieces, Megan, Alexandra, Amber and Autumn; his nephews, Michael, John, Woody, Jovial and Nathan; his uncles, Brian and Bruce; his cousins, Matthew, Brian and Todd; his mother-in-law, Yvonne; his father-in-law, Said; his brother-in-law Donald (wife Melissa); his sisters-in-law, Laura and Carolyn (husband Joel); and so many others who miss him greatly.

A funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, May 6, beginning at noon at Our Lady of the Lake in Loch Lomond.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Joseph's Parish in Middletown, P.O. Box 1350, Middletown, Calif.