Carter Leslie Osleber

Carter Leslie Osleber, 79, passed away on January 20, 2023 after a year long battle with a series of strokes. He was born on December 22, 1943 in Chicago, IL, the third of seven siblings to Charles and Helen Osleber. Carter is survived by Edith Osleber, his wife for 58 years; daughter Rachel Osleber Smith (Mike) and grandsons Michael III and Carter; son Michael (Lindsay) Osleber and granddaughters Sarah and Layla; brother Raleigh Osleber (Pat); sister Darlene Nieman; sister Cheri Joyner; sister Mercie Reams (Jim); sister-in-law Nicki Osleber; aunt Norma Fielder, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Charles and Fred, his brothers-in-law Walter Nieman and Bill Joyner, and sister-in-law Heidi Osleber. After his high school graduation from Wells High School, Carter earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology from University of Illinois and later on a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Nova Southeastern University in Florida. Having gotten his incredible work ethic from his father, Carter started delivering newspapers and working in the family’s general store when he was ten years old and never stopped working until his first stroke occurred in late December 2021. He became a Chicago policeman in 1967. Over the course of seven years, the number of awards he received reflected his extraordinary courage and talent as a law enforcement officer, sometimes working with his two brothers Raleigh and Fred, also Chicago police officers, which made him very attractive to the newly formed Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Carter was accepted into DEA training, finished first in his class of Special Agents and for this was given his choice on where to start his career. He joined the West Palm Beach Regional Office in 1974. He made numerous large drug cases that put high level drug smugglers and dealers in federal prison, making the West Palm Beach RO the most productive per capita in the entire Miami Field Division and possibly in the country. His DEA work brought him to places like Central and South America, the Caribbean Islands, Europe and Southeast Asia, sometimes undercover. He had incredible working relationships with the local and state law enforcement and other federal agencies and was cited as a natural leader and a cop’s cop. He won numerous awards for his outstanding performance including The Administrators Award. After an unprecedented twelve years of service in West Palm Beach, he was promoted as Group Supervisor in San Francisco where much of the focus was battling the cocaine trade from Columbian and Mexican cartels, as well as the heroin trade in Southeast Asia. After almost four years, he transferred to DEA Headquarters in Washington, DC where he rose through the ranks holding several positions including senior inspector, and his favorite, Chief of Firearms Training in Quantico, VA. After mandatory retirement from DEA, Carter served as an investigator for the U.S. Government for his remaining 21 years. If he had more time, he would’ve been a great teacher of law enforcement, history and military aviation. He was a walking encyclopedia. Carter loved his family, his work and his fishing and not necessarily always in that order. He began scuba diving in Lake Michigan in the 1960s, so his move to Florida provided a tropical underwater haven and he passed this love onto his children. When both children settled in Little Rock over time, Carter & Edith made their last move from DC to Little Rock in 2017. We had five wonderful years back together as a family and we miss him terribly. On Monday, January 30, 2023 at Taylor & Modeen Funeral Home Jupiter FL (visit http://www.taylorandmodeen.com/ for directions and condolences) there will be a visitation from 9:30-11a.m., and an 11a.m. memorial service followed by interment at Jupiter Cemetery. Memorials may be made in Carter’s name to Humane Society of Pulaski County (14600 Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock, AR 72210).

Carter Leslie Osleber

December 22, 1943 - January 20, 2023