Arthur was born on December 2, 1939 in Roscoe, Sullivan County, NY. He was the second son of Robert Andrew Carlson and his wife, Edna (Schleiermacher) Carlson. He had one brother, Robert Erich, also born in Roscoe. Arthur attended Livingston Manor Central School from September 1944 to February
1952. He lived in Shandelee until 1945 when he moved to old Rte. 17 (Carlson's Bar &
Grill) one mile north of Livingston Manor. From an early age "Artie" displayed a unique talent for drawing by copying the cartoons from the newspapers, so well that anyone would think they were done by the originator. He was also
a very talented singer and tap dancer performing in several minstrels/benefits with his father who accompanied him on the accordion.
The bar & grill was sold in January 1952. Artie and I stayed with our Uncle Al's (Albert Schleiermacher) family in Shandelee, NY. while our parents looked for and tried to buy a farm in the state of Maryland. The farm in Maryland didn't materialize so we moved to White Sulpher Springs to be near dad's employer (Woodworking Mill). We attended school there from February until mid-May of 1952.
Our parents bought a farm in Charleston, Montgomery County, NY. and we moved there on May 15, 1952. Art and I attended the Fultonville Union Free School which became Fonda-Fultonville Central in 1954. While in high school, Art did a portrait of then U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, which was sent to the White House by his class. A letter of appreciation and best wishes for the future was sent to Art and his
classmates from the White House. Art was very popular in school. He was class Vice-President in his junior year, Art Editor for the yearbook, the Caughnawagan,
and performed in the senior play. Art graduated from FFCS in June 1958.
Academically, Art was not prepared for college so he enlisted in the U.S
.Navy in December, 1958. He was given 10 weeks basic training and 16 weeks medical training at the U.S.Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Il. After completing his training, Art was assigned as a Corpsman to the U.S. Naval Hospital, Annapolis, Md. until his Honorable Discharge in February, 1963.
Art enrolled and was accepted into the Ringling School of Art, Sarasota, Fl., during the summer of 1963. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in the summer of 1966. During his college years, Art worked summers for the Waldemere and for his uncle Al Schleiermacher (a.k.a. "Dudley") to earn money for tuition and expenses. During this period he painted several large pictures for the "CHAN-AL", a bar and hotel in Shandelee,
NY, owned by Albert Schleiermacher and Chauncy Turk at that time.
Art was recruited by Hallmark Cards Inc., Kansas City,
Mo., for an artist position upon graduation from Ringling in the summer of 1966.
He flourished at Hallmark, working his way up to Art Designer. He held his position until his untimely death from cancer on February, 3, 1993.
Art was married to Donna Jeanne Perkins (they met at Hallmark) on December 10, 1969. They were the proud parents of two sons: Aron
Christopher, born March 7, 1976 and Joel, born July 3, 1978.
Art's wife and sons survive him and are currently living in Lenexa,
Ks.
