My Grandpa Carpenter

On Thanksgiving, while Jay and I were in the thick of packing for our move, I heard that my Grandpa Carpenter had passed away.

This is hard, and so have the past 2 years. I really knew my grandpa growing up, knew him to be a loving, strong, smart man. The past 2 years battling pancreatic cancer, it has been really hard to see someone so strong lose so much weight and be in so much pain.

See, growing up my family visited my Grandparents every year, usually in the summer. We'd make the 18 hour car ride with all 7 of us kids, and finally arrive at their home.

One thing I always knew as a kid was that my grandpa was so much fun to be around. He could fix most anything and always gave us rides. When we were little, it was often on the riding lawn mower or the tractor. When we got a bit older, he would give us rides on the ATVs (4 wheelers, as he called them). Sometimes we would take them up in the mountains to ride on paths and bring a picnic. I don't know many grandparents that ride on ATVs!

As a kid, he had a "hippity hop" set up, a swing set, and a giant teeter totter. The hippity hop was a very large inner tube around a metal frame so you could bounce on it just like a trampoline. The teeter totter was even large enough for adults, and was great when we were kids, raising us up above 5 feet tall. In the center were large metal wheels so we could push or pull it. There was also a giant tire swing. Yes, most of these are still there.

The backyard was large and next to it were some hills. The few times we went to visit during the winter, we got to go sledding. This was very cool for us to have sledding so close, since we lived in a desert. Not only would Grandpa make sure we were set up with winter gear and sleds, he would bring us out to go. I remember one trip where I was small and my feet kept getting stuck in the deep snow. He would pull me out, and then told all of us kids to walk in his footsteps; he would lead the way. Sometimes he would pull the smaller kids on the sleds. Often he would get on a sled and invite several of us kids to ride with him down the hill. Then we would all run back up the hill together -- he would carry the sled or inner tube and sometimes also help a small child up.

He would also entertain us children inside. He would read us books or sing us songs or get out toys. Some of his "books" were pictures inside of page protectors with stories or songs. I think he may have used those exact ones when teaching at his work.

My grandpa enjoyed his job. He taught at a school for the deaf and blind, and he had great teaching methods. One thing that he did was working with deaf children who were learning to talk and lip read. Think of how helpful he was in so many lives.

Grandma told me that one of the most important things he did for one child was teach him how to blow his nose. It may seem silly, but this boy was about 8 years old and with his disabilities (various) he still couldn't figure out how to blow out his nose. I imagine his mother had to use the baby suction thing on him whenever he was sick! Well my grandpa rigged up a device so that you could blow up a balloon using your nose. With it the boy finally was able to practice and learn to blow his own nose.

There's another story my grandpa always told about working with a blind child. He told it so much that someone sent it to the Reader's Digest and it got put in as a joke, but it's actually a true story:
He had a little blind girl in his class. During the Pledge of Allegiance he told all the kids to put their hands over their hearts. Instead, she would always put her hand over her back pocket of her pants. He thought that was strange until one day her mother came to pick her up. Her mother turned to the little girl, patted her bottom, and said, "Bless your little heart."

I know he didn't make a lot of money to support his 7 kids, but he loved his job and my grandma saved, budgeted, and prayed, so that the money worked out. They knew it was more important to be happy and help others than to make tons of money.

 My grandpa seemed to always have a piece of candy or ice cream to share with us. He especially loved a Frosty from Wendy's -- and we did too.

Jay and I spent our first Christmas after our wedding with my Carpenter grandparents. In 2010 we had already seen both of our families recently for the wedding and were at school at BYU in Provo, so we decided to go visit them. They also came to our wedding, so we got to see them a lot that year. We enjoyed ourselves playing games inside. William was on his mission to Ogden and he got permission to spend Christmas with his grandparents, so it turned out that we got to see my little brother for Christmas too. We talked about doing more fun things, but I came down with the flu and so we just ended up doing low key things inside. We still had a very nice time and a nice Christmas together.

A few years ago I drove up in an old 1990 Corolla that Jay and I had received from his side of the family. The old car was passed around as needed. I mentioned something about wanting to know how to check some of the fluid levels for maintenance. Grandpa was already battling cancer at this time, but he didn't hesitate to come out and show me how to take care of the car, and to look at it and give his opinion. Uncle Paul also came out and we very helpful that night. I remember Grandpa showing me that the battery case wasn't attached correctly, that it was missing some very long screws. He found me some replacements in his garage. They were old and one was bent, but they worked well. In general he kept things that would be useful, because you never knew. And he kept these useful things organized so that he could find them.

My grandpa was also a great example to me in the LDS church. Being reverent and keeping the sabbath day holy were important to him and I remember him teaching us about it. I also remember that he would often walk some of us kids to church. The building was near where he lived, and the rest of the family would usually drive in, but if we got ready early we could walk in with him.

Several years ago he served a mission in Australia with Grandma. They loved the people and the work they did. They also got some photos of them with kangaroos, which was pretty cool.

While in Australia, he and Grandma developed Some Gospel ABC's

Actively Become Christlike. 

Daily Exercise Faith, Gratitude, Humility. 

Internalize Joy, Kindness, Love. 

Magnify Noble Opportunities. 

Prayfully, Quietly, Responsibly Serve. 

Treasure Unity, Virtue, Wisdom. 

eXperience Youthful Zeal.

Here is a link to his obituary. I've copied the type below too.

Douglas Howard Carpenter

North Ogden – Douglas Howard Carpenter, 79, passed away on November 27, 2014 after a 2 year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born June 26, 1935 in Goshen, Idaho to George Loren and Elizabeth Hannah (Daw) Carpenter. Doug married Mary Anna Woodland on December 19, 1958 in the Idaho Falls Temple. He served honorably in the Army from 1958 to 1961.

Doug loved to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and served 2 missions for the LDS Church; one in the Southern States and later with his sweetheart in Australia. He was a devoted member of the North Ogden 7th Ward.

He earned his Bachelor's degree in special education and Master's degree in multiple handicap education from the University of Utah. He taught deaf children for 34 years both at the Utah School for the Deaf and Blind and in public schools.

He loved being a husband, dad and grandpa and was so proud of his family. He could often be seen around the neighborhood giving kids rides on his tractor, 4-wheeler, scooter or lawnmower. He loved being outside; gardening, fishing, hiking, or working/tinkering in his garage. He lived to serve others, his smile and "It's a great day!" won't be forgotten.

Doug is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary Anna; children, Patrice (David) Minch, Howard (Kathleen) Carpenter, Mary Beth (John) Ford, Jean Ann (Todd) Cravens, Paul (Cathryn) Carpenter, and Carrie Carpenter; 22 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; 2 brothers and a sister, Wayne and Wendell (Linda) Carpenter, and Rayola McBride.

He was preceded in death by two children, Brenda and Chuck Carpenter and siblings, Jean Taylor, Vere, Verl and Fred Carpenter.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, December 4, 2014 at the North Ogden 7th Ward, 205 E. Elberta Dr. A viewing will be held on Wednesday, December 3rd from 6 to 8 p.m. at Myers Ogden Mortuary, 845 Washington Blvd. and Thursday prior to the service at the church from 12 to 12:45 p.m. Interment, Ben Lomond Cemetery where he will receive Military Honors.