Patricia Carpenter

Patricia Carpenter, 85, passed away on December 30, 2014 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She was born to Benjamin and Bernice O'Dell in Price, Utah in 1929. Soon after, they moved to Cripple Creek, Colorado where she lived until they moved to Grand Junction, Colorado. While finishing her Associates Degree at Mesa Jr. College in Grand Junction, she met the love of her life Gil Carpenter. When they graduated in June of 1949, they married and moved to Carbondale, Colorado, where he began his career in the retail lumber business. Gil passed away in April 2014, just short of celebrating 65 wonderful years of marriage with Pat. Pat's career choice of homemaker and mother was perfect as she and Gil raised five children while moving to nine different towns in Colorado, Idaho and New Mexico as Gil's career progressed. Pat packed and unpacked for new homes at least 25 times and helped her children adjust to new friends and schools many times. She loved the Colorado, Idaho and New Mexico mountains, so over the years she also packed and unpacked the family station wagons for many spectacular picnics and camping trips in those mountains. She loved music and broke into song on the spur of the moment, making every day an occasion to celebrate. She and Gil were amazing dancers and cut a rug whenever and wherever possible. Pat enjoyed many years in New Mexico living in Gallup, Albuquerque, Corrales, Rio Rancho and Santa Fe. She enjoyed long walks in all those areas and was particularly fond of the Albuquerque Bosque. Pat and Gil were devout Catholics and sacrificed a lot to educate their children in Catholic schools. Pat had a quick wit, warm smile and loving heart and Gil adored her! Pat is survived by her five children: Kelly Carpenter, Paula Cook (Doug), Maggie Dorris (Lizard), Stephen Carpenter and Rebecca Fowler (Mick); her grandchildren, Matthew Craft, Caitlin Dupuis (John), and Ellee Cook; and her brother, Joseph O'Dell (Susie). She will be missed by her children and their husbands, her grandchildren, brother and Susie, and friends. A Mass of Christian burial will be held Monday, January 12, 2015, 1:30 p.m., at St. Anne's Catholic Church, 511 Alicia Street in Santa Fe followed by burial at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes a donation to the charity of your choice. FRENCH - Wyoming 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE (505) 823-9400