Ann Carpenter

Ann Carpenter, 71, passed away at home on July 1, 2007, after a six-week battle with pancreatic cancer. She was cared for by the medical community, Hospice and family members.

Judy was born Feb. 10, 1936, in Hillsboro, Ore., the daughter of Norman and Joyce Johnson. The family moved to Southern California where she graduated form Redlands High School.

During her sophomore year, she met John Carpenter at a Baptist Youth Group outing at the Forest Home Conference Center. They were married four years later on June 23 at the First Baptist Church of Yucaipa, Calif., where they attended.

John has said that the greatest gift Judy ever gave him through the years was the influence that brought him to salvation and his relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Family was very important to Judy and she loved to visit and care for her grandchildren, who brought her great joy in her later years.

Life-long activities she enjoyed were sewing, knitting, needlepoint and cross-stitch and other crafts. During her last 10 years, she became somewhat of an expert of family genealogy. She compiled four books of family history and genealogy data.

Judy loved office work and was employed at various times with Whitefish schools, Whitefish Credit Union and businesses in Montana, Oregon, Minnesota and California. In 1964, Judy graduated with high honors and a bachelor's in home economics from the University of Montana.

Judy Carpenter was a resident of Whitefish for 41 years and made many friends in the community. She and her husband purchased, remodeled and rented 10 different homes in Whitefish during their 41 years. In 2006, they moved south of Columbia Falls to a five-acre plot with a new home in the shadow of Columbia Mountain.

Judy and her family want to express deep gratitude to God, her several doctors, the nurses, the Hospice people and the many friends who provided care for her during her illness. Without this blessing her illness would have been unbearable.

Judy is survived by her husband of 51 years, John Carpenter, Columbia Falls; son Brian Carpenter and wife Carol and their child Kristen, Corning, Calif.; daughter Dee Ann Loomis, Missoula; son Bruce Carpenter and wife Amy, Columbia Falls; daughter Heather Durham, Albuquerque, N.M.; grandchildren Melina Peters, Missoula, Brad and Megan Carpenter, Corning, Calif., Kinsey and Rachael Durham, Albuquerque, N.M., Kristen, Corning, Calif., Colton and Kaleb, Columbia Falls, and Ashley Hyde, Whitefish; great grandchildren Molly Ann, Maci and Vincent; brother Neil Johnson, Allan, Texas; and 11 half brothers and sisters.

Cremation has taken place. Her ashes will be scattered at her favorite lake where she often escaped to relax.

Memorial services will be held at the Methodist Church, 117 Second Street West, in Columbia Falls on Saturday, July 14, 2007, at 10:30 a.m.

Memorials given in her honor may be sent to Home Options Hospice Care, Att. Tammy Clark, 175 Commons Loop, Suite 100, Kalispell MT 5990.