Richard Miles Carpenter, son of Miles Franklin and Janie Evelyn Heckendorn Carpenter, was born Aug. 24, 1942, in Seymour, Mo. He departed this life Thursday, July 7, 2005, in Glenwood Healthcare, in Seymour, at the age of 62 years.
His father preceded him in death in 1980.
Richard is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Dwayne and Beth Carpenter, Conway, Mo., and Greg and Cindy Carpenter, of Marshfield, Mo.; three grandchildren, Sara Carpenter and Brian Smith, both of Conway, and Kyle Carpenter, of Marshfield; his mother, Janie Carpenter, Seymour; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Bob and Patti Carpenter, Strafford, Lowell and Linda Carpenter, and Gary and Barsha Carpenter, all of Marshfield; a sister and brother-in-law, Marilyn and Jack Mingus, Seymour; a number of nieces and nephews, Jeff Mingus, Julie Ervin, Sheila Replogle, Shannon Morefeld, Abby Biggers, Ashley Carpenter, Josh Davis and Justin Davis; two aunts, Clarice Henderson, Arkansas City, Kans., and Margaret Heckendorn, of Kansas City; three uncles, Albert Carpenter, and his wife, Ollie, of Fulton, Rev. Gordon Heckendorn, and his wife, Sue, of Seymour, and Cyrus Heckendorn, and his wife, Sybil, of Ava; a special friend, Deena Hilburn, Marshfield; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
He was born and raised in the Seymour community and graduated from Seymour High School in the Class of 1960. He served his country faithfully in the United States Marine Corps from Feb. of 1961 until May of 1964. After being honorably discharged from the Marines, he made his home in Wichita, Kans., where he worked for Boeing Aircraft for about two years. He then returned to Southwest Missouri, and the Seymour area.
Richard made his profession of faith and was saved on Oct. 11, 1958, near Seymour, and was baptized in Nov. of 1958.
In his spare time he enjoyed being outdoors where his favorite activities were fishing and gardening. He also loved working on lawn mowers and buying, trading and selling them. His family was very important to him and he especially enjoyed his grandchildren.
Richard was a loving father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle and nephew, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and his accomplishments and will treasure the memories he made for his family and friends.
Services were held Sunday, July 10, at 2:30 p.m. in the Seymour First Baptist Church with Reverends Gordon Heckendorn and Mitchell Wright officiating. Burial with full military honors by Webster County Veterans Memorial Association were in Seymour Masonic Cemetery under direction of Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Seymour.
Memorial contributions may be made to Seymour First Baptist or Diggins Baptist Church Building Funds in care of the funeral home at P.O. Box 366, Seymour, MO 65746.
