Mary Jean Sander Carpenter

Mary S. Carpenter, 70, of Tomball Texas, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend passed away Tuesday April 22, 2013. Born to the late Owen C. Sander and Janet M. Buck, March 1, 1943 in Murray, UT, Mary graduated from Granite High School, Salt Lake City, UT in 1961, she studied Interior Design in college. Mary and Kent R. Carpenter were sealed in the Salt Lake LDS Temple for time and all eternity. Kent & Mary started their family in Midvale, Utah and then went on to live in Redmond, WA, Pleasant Grove, UT, Pittsford, NY and Tomball, TX.

Mary was an excellent Homemaker who always kept her home and children immaculate. She gave her children the gift of reading. She had an immense vocabulary, and could enliven conversations with surprising and delightfully rare words. She was a talented woman who took great pride in cooking and baking delectable treats. Her desserts will long be remembered, along with her recipes for a wide range of foods destined to be passed down among generations that follow her. She took great care in the design and interior decorating of her home. She loved flowers; and her flower gardens were a vibrant, potpourri of color and inspiration to aspiring gardeners. She was so very talented in creating floral wreaths, making stained glass windows, calligraphy and sewing baby blankets and bibs. She had a funny sense of humor, and was full of surprises and loved a good practical joke! For those left behind, her star will be a sparkling light to sustain us through this troubled world, until we are reunited with her once more.

Though Mary's health was poor for many years and she often felt ill, she carried a hug and a smile for all she came in contact with. She was very caring and concerned about others and how she could help lift others in times of sorrow and grief. Through these actions she emulated the Savior.

Mary was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and enjoyed teaching Primary children for many years and serving in the Primary presidency. She had a way of touching the hearts of children, making them feel special and bringing joy to their lives. Known as "Grandma Skittles" and "Fun Grandma", children of all ages enjoyed seeing her at church as she would always have a stick of gum or some other treat to give them. Children enjoyed visiting Mary at her home where she would read to them, listen about their day, share a treat and send them off with a hug. Mary was known for being able to calm a crying child in seconds with her soft voice, gentle touch and smile.

Mary is survived by her Husband and loyal caregiver, Kent R. Carpenter, Tomball TX; Siblings, Judy Van Leuween, Sandy, UT, Jan Rivers, Castle Rock, CO; Children, Michael and Corinne Carpenter, Sammamish, WA; Todd and Karen Carpenter, Sammamish, WA; Greg and Rosanne Carpenter, Nazareth, PA; and Danielle and Ron Turner, West Richland, WA. She is also survived by 17 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 11, 2013 at 11:00am at the Holbrook Mortuary, 3251 South 2300 East, Salt Lake City, where friends may visit from 10:00-10:45am prior to the service. Interment will be at the Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park in the Rosemont Section. A memorial service will be held in Tomball, TX on Saturday May 18, 2013. Messages to the family may be posted at: www.HolbrookMortuary.com