Lenore J. Carter

1936 - 2009

Lenore J. Carter 1936 - 2009 It is with great joy we celebrate the homecoming of Lenore Carter into her Heavenly Father's Kingdom, through the grace of Jesus Christ, yet it is with immeasurable sadness that her family and friends release her. She returned to her Father's care on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2009, and was in the company of her loving husband and family at the time of her promotion. As beloved wife, Mimi, mother, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, friend, teacher and mentor, Lenore will be remembered for the countless lives she touched in inestimable ways. She possessed a unique and generous ability with correspondence, maintaining a network of relationships around the world. Lenore and Warren were overwhelmed by the love and generosity of those who supported them on this, their final adventure together. Lenore was born in Oakland, California, on September 8, 1936, to Paul and Zelda Wilkinson. She, and big brother Paul, moved many times as a child, due to her father's management promotions with Montgomery Ward. When she was in the fourth grade, the family settled in Hanford, where little brother Jack joined the family. The Wilkinson children enjoyed a family- life centered on their faith. Lenore's Godly parents, whose love and devotion to each other was clearly evident, served as roll models for Lenore as wife, mother, and grandmother. Lenore met the love of her life, Warren, in their junior year of high school through a church youth event. Both went to the University of La Verne and married between their junior and senior year. Upon graduation, they returned to Warren's home town of McFarland, California, where Lenore taught school, then happily welcomed sons Doug, Ken, and daughter Karen. After the kids were in school, she substitute taught at McFarland High School for many years. Being with kids was her life-long passion. During their entire married life, Lenore and Warren were active in the Church of the Living Savior in McFarland. As youth group leaders, their home was a hub of activity. Lenore especially loved being a stay-at-home mom, living in the country on the family farm. She took great pleasure in the kids' activities, including livestock showing, playing sports, camping, and school events. Friends also gathered often at home to play tennis, drink coffee, have Bible study, and relish the depths of relationships that were real and true. Dear to Lenore's heart was Kern County Student Leadership, a high school mentoring program started over sixteen years ago by Warren and Doug. She was the first female mentor, investing in the lives of countless young people through her commitment and devotion. Through the years Lenore supported many organizations; among these were serving on the board of directors for Crisis Pregnancy Center, the Delano Regional Medical Center Auxiliary, California Women for Agriculture, Young Homemaker's, and McFarland Women's Club. Lenore attended Bible Study Fellowship and Community Bible Fellowship for many years, treasuring the time spent learning with and encouraging women. Five years ago, Lenore and Warren moved to Bakersfield, embracing the close proximity to their very active family. Their focus became somewhat grandkid-centered: Doug and wife Dena have daughter Mackenzie; Ken and Balenda have daughters Taylor, Sydney, Maggie, and son Zachary; Karen and husband Joey have daughters Lauren and Abby; and like-a-son Jesse and his wife Raquel and family. "Mimi and Papa" have been faithful fans and fixtures at the kids' volleyball, basketball, tennis, soccer, baseball, and choir events and competitions. On earth, until we see her again, are the families of Paul and Opal Wilkinson, Jack and Donna Wilkinson, and brother and sister-in-law, Wayne and Margaret Carter. Welcoming her in Heaven are, among many, father and mother, Paul and Zelda Wilkinson, and father and mother-in-law Frank and Catherine Carter. Her life, her smile, her courage, her strength, her character, her patience, her wisdom, her grace, her love... she will be remembered and missed for these wonderful qualities of a life of loving service to her Lord, her family and to His people of every race, creed, and religion around the globe. The score is Love - 40, God wins, yeehaw! Welcome home, Mimi. We can't wait to see you again! A Celebration of life will be held December 12, 2009, 1:30 p.m. at Olive Drive Church, Bakersfield, CA. In lieu of flowers a donation may be made to Kern County Student Leadership, 1200 Discovery Dr., Ste. 450, Bakersfield, CA, 93309 or to the Church of the Living Savior, 149 5th St., McFarland, CA 93250.