Date of birth: August 7, 1982 (31)

Travis was born in Prescott, Ariz. to Tripp Carter and Glenna Echol. As a little boy, he loved to work on the Necktie Ranch in Walnut Grove with his dad, Tripp Carter and grandpa Arden Carter.

He rode tractors, played in the snow and loved Christmas time with his extended family at the ranch.

As he grew older, Travis began to become a real help on the ranch and, according to his dad, he was a good hand and worked, branded and shipped cattle, and drove the large equipment and was great horse shoer.

Approaching high school, Travis was an outstanding athlete and in 2000, began school at Orme in Dewey, Arizona where he played football and was all state, all conference football player. He scored 16 touchdowns his senior year as tailback.

After high school, he attended the University of Arizona on a academic scholarship but couldn't figure out why he had to attend classes in order to play football. One day, his dad learned through a reliable source that Travis wasn't attending school any longer but rather working at a "shoe store."When his dad found out, he called him and said, 'Why don't you come back home and work on the ranch?'

Travis returned to the ranch and according to his dad, Tripp, he was a great help. He said he could do anything and was always willing to help any way he could.

Travis was a quiet boy growing up who loved spending time with his family.

Married in 2005 to Krista Smallen, they together have two children, Brayden, 7 and Brielle, 3.

His firefighting career began in 2005 where he worked for the Prescott National Forest as a hotshot and worked on the Rodeo-Chediski fire and many others until 2009.

In 2009, he was chosen to be among the elite Granite Mountain Hotshot crew through the City of Prescott. In 2009, the City of Prescott received a grant from FEMA for firefighting which provided a full-time career for each member of the crew. Their job was, in the off season, to trim brush and limbs and protect the areas in and around Prescott. They are known as "Prescott's finest," and were professionals with a great deal of training.

Travis hs said that one of his favorite places on earth was the " fishing pond" at the ranch. His family is grateful to the Lord for Travis' life and for the time they had with him. He will be greatly missed but we know he is finally home with the lord, whom he loved.

Memorial in Pioneers Home Cemetery in Prescott, Arizona

Travis' marker along the Granite Mountain Hot Shots Memorial Trail in Yarnell, AZ