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Mary Jane Carpenter

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"The Tavel family of Estes Park have fond memories of MHJ,..."

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Eighty-eight year old Mary Jane Boggs Carpenter didn't stroll through life, she danced.
Mary was born in Winchester, Idaho, January 27, 1925. Early years were spent in Washington, then Oregon. In 1941, she was Prairie City Grand County Fair Queen graduating Prairie City [Oregon] High School in 1942 as President of her class and Salutarian. Mary attended the University of Washington in 1943 and was a Mail Clerk for military based Engineers during the war effort. She ended up with a Medical Technology degree in 1947 and a fiancé by the name of Fred Roy Carpenter. They were married in June 22, 1948 and lived in Washington, California, Nebraska before finally retiring to Fred's native State of Colorado. Mary was always proud of Fred's service to his country aboard U.S.S. Enterprise from 1939 to 1945.
The Carpenter family lived in the Denver area until 1965 when they built a home in Cottonwood Acres, along the "Devil's Backbone", West of Loveland. In 1966, the family sold their Loveland house and moved to La Canada, CA., following Fred's career. In 1970, Fred's health issues forced the family to liquidate their La Canada residence, and at Mary's insistence, use the proceeds to move the family to Europe. They spent the Summer of 1970, travelling the United States, living and camping out of 2 cars. The family landed in New York City in the Autumn of 1970 then travelled to Europe. The Carpenter's lived in Spain and travelled Europe in a Volkswagon van eventually making their way back to Glen Haven and Estes Park, CO in the Autumn of 1971.
Mary worked for the Estes Park Bank, retiring as New Accounts Officer in 1988. She and Fred managed a working horse ranch on Fish Creek Road where Mary spent her days riding horses and hiking. Fred helped develop then later manage the Upper Thompson Sanitation District. They survived the July 1976 Estes Park Flood. The American Red Cross cited Mary for "grateful appreciation of extordinary effort in assisting the victims of the Estes Park Flood". After Fred's death in 1980 and 32 years of marriage, she travelled Portugal and Brazil finally settling in Loveland, CO., where she lived until 2008 being host to numerous family and grandchildren gatherings. Mary moved to Appleleaf Assisted Living, Berthoud, CO., where she lived for the past 6 years.
Mary was a Member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Eastern Star. She was a member of The Loveland Garden Club, Loveland Rose Society, Red Hat Society, and she was active in showing and participated as a Rose Judge. Mary's rose designs garnered blue ribbons and a host of other accolades. She loved a good garden spot, the outdoors, animals and family.
Mary was an Irish woman with a strong faith, who would dance a jig every time she could. She battled cancer, hip replacements and vascular dementia. She fought with dignity, strength of will and faith, touching the lives of caregivers to admit she was a "sweet lady". Mary was preceded in death by husband, Fred Roy Carpenter, daughter Ann Elizabeth Carpenter and granddaughter Erin Lee Carpenter. Mary is survived by sons Craig Carpenter (Sandy) of Fort Collins, CO., and Jay Carpenter (Beth) of Littleton, CO and grandchildren, Jennifer, Lauren, Samantha, Matthew and Scott and great grandchildren are Elena, Annlee and Dalilah.
Funeral services will be held at Kibbey-Fishburn Funeral Home, Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at 1:00pm with visitation prior to the service. Interment at Linn Grove Cemetery, Greeley, CO
Memorial contributions may be made to Pathways Hospice in care of Kibbey-Fishburn Funeral Home, 1102 Lincoln Avenue, Loveland, CO 80537. Condolences may be left for the family at www.kibbeyfishburn.com.

Published in Estes Park Trail-Gazette on June 15, 2013

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