Jimmie J. Carpenter

Jimmie J Carpenter, 78, of Chandler, Arizona, passed away on February 15, 2013. He was born in Evening Shade, AR on January 12, 1935. He moved to Chandler, AZ, where he remained a resident until the time of his death. He was a graduate of Chandler High School and was active in drama, glee and played sports, both basketball & baseball, in which he lettered and was a pitcher. Jim attended the University of Arizona, then transferred to Arizona State University, where he studied business management & economics. In college Jim participated in Greek life as a Phi Delt. It was here that Jim met the love of his life, Marylou. It is said he told his mother he had met the girl he was going to marry in spite of her long-term relationship with a high school sweetheart at the time of their meeting. Jim used his charms to secure a date, they dated for a few months and married on March 24, 1956.

After his father had a heart attack, Jim had to leave college to help in the family construction business. He worked throughout the East Valley building irrigation ditches until the time he became active in the AZ Army National Guard on a full-time basis. His military investment was one of the loves of Jim’s life. He served in a variety of capacities after completion of Officer Candidate School and moved through the ranks to retire as a colonel in the US Army. He served in the artillery and was both a battery and battalion commander. His kids have fond memories of going to artillery demonstrations and seeing tanks & howitzer cannons fire in the desert. It was amazing to think that their father worked with such amazing equipment in his regular maneuvers. Jim moved to full-time Army and retired in the role of the United States Property & Fiscal Officer (USP&FO) in the State of Arizona as a Colonel in 1994.

Upon retirement, Jim & Marylou proceeded to focus on world travel, cruising with dear friends and seeing a multitude of places. They expanded their resident presence in Pinetop, where they became active in the Pinetop-Lakes Country Club, both actively involved in events and activities of the club. Jim served on the Board of the Club for several years. They later became members of the White Mountain Country Club, also in Pinetop.

Jim & Marylou worked on their dream house, a log cabin, in Pinetop and moved in 2002. Jim cleared their property and participated in the building of and supervised various crews in its construction. This was Jim’s true labor of love as he & Marylou planned every detail to meet their needs and provide a residence that would support and welcome the many friends they had attend various dinner & cocktail parties over the years. The house was also able to provide a place to join Jim & Marylou for a full Carpenter Christmas celebration in 2004. This was a particularly bittersweet gathering because it served to be the last time their granddaughter, Nicole, would be in the cabin before her death in 2006.

Jim loved the outdoors and instilled this same passion for hunting, camping & fishing into his family. He took his family camping every summer in Ditch Camp, in the White Mountains, where everyone washed in the creek, cooked on a campfire and slept on cots. His family loved going to the dump at dusk to watch the black bears rummage through the garbage. Jim provided many happy memories of outdoor life for his family. On scout outings he taught his son, Marshall, the constellations in the Arizona night sky.

Jim was a man of commitment – to his family, friends and his country. He instilled integrity, honor and respect in those who knew him.

Jim is survived by his wife, Marylou, and children, Suzanne Taylor of Los Angeles, CA and Marshall Carpenter of Round Rock, TX. He also has four grandchildren, Nicole, who preceeded him in death in 2006 at the age of 24, Brandon, age 29, Kenny, age 16 & Katie, age 12. The memorial service with National Guard Honor Guard burial will be February 21, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at The Valley of the Sun Mortuary at 10940 E. Chandler Heights Rd, Chandler, AZ. In lieu of flowers please make donations to Hospice of the Valley at 1510 E Flower St, Phoenix, AZ 85014 or the AZ Humane Society, Attn Development Dept., 1521 W Dobbins Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85041. For additional information and to send your condolences visit www.valleyofthesunfuneralhome.com