Helen Arlene [Harvey] Carpenter, 84, died Monday, Jan. 21, 2018. Helen was born Oct. 18, 1934, in Sherman, Grayson County, Texas, to Edgar Edward and Winnie Juanita [Hall] Harvey. She graduated from Sherman High. She met and later married Earnest Leroy Carpenter, who was stationed at Perrin Air Force Base in Sherman. Helen accompanied her husband to many of his postings over the years, one of which was at Amarillo Air Force Base, where they put down roots, even though he continued to serve at many locations throughout the US and overseas. Upon his retirement from the Air Force in 1979, as a chief master sergeant, they returned to the home they had bought in the Eastridge Addition many years earlier.
Helen and Leroy were members of North Amarillo Church of Christ, where he served as an elder for many years, and where they were involved in the prison ministry and church visitation.
She was preceded in death by her parents; son-in-law Glen Rumley of Phoenix, AZ, and her beloved husband of almost sixty years. Helen loved writing letters, gathering family around for photographs, singing spiritual songs, especially with family, and she never missed sending a birthday card to one of her many relatives.
The family would like to thank all the wonderful people at Heartis Amarillo who cared for Helen. Their dedication and continued support is greatly appreciated. Also special thanks go out to Randy Williams of North Amarillo Church of Christ and David Malone of High Plains Christian Ministries for their care and thoughtfulness. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be to North Amarillo Church of Christ.
Survivors include six children: Pat Rumley of Mesa, AZ, Meschelle Mitchell and husband Tim of Jacksonville, AL, Terri Boswell-Williams and husband Jim Williams of Amarillo, TX, Eric Carpenter and wife Cathy of Phoenix, AZ, Kim Dempsey and husband Dean of Oxford, AL, and Colin Carpenter of Phoenix, AZ; 13 grandchildren: Brian Mitchell of Hartselle, AL, Shea Rumley of Kimmel, IN and Skyla Rumley of Mesa, AZ, Maggie Boswell and Sara Grace of Amarillo, TX, Erica Janousek and Rachel Otero of Phoenix, AZ, Autumn Carpenter of Phoenix, AZ, Leanne and Thomas Carpenter of Phoenix, AZ, Michael and Garrett Williams of Amarillo, TX and Callie Spencer and husband Nick of Holloman AFB, NM; six great-grandchildren: Brileigh and Anna Mitchell of Decatur, AL, Aiden and Brantley Janousek of Phoenix, AZ, and Sephie and Kosima Williams of Amarillo, TX; her brother, Arley Harvey, of the greater Houston area; a niece, Laura Henigsman and husband Dean of Richardson, TX and a nephew, Alan Harvey and wife Christi of Houston, TX.
