Merle Louise Carpenter

Merle Louise Carpenter nee Lambert, born to Sheila Mae and John W. Lambert on January 31, 1931 in Manor, Texas passed into the larger life on June 1, 2009, surrounded by her loved ones at her home near Briggs, Texas following an lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer. She lived all her life in Texas, primarily in Burnet County. She finished eighth grade, married George Kennedy Carpenter, and reared 11 children. She was preceded in death by both parents, her first husband of 43 years, a brother and a sister, three grandchildren, two great grandchildren, as well as 5 sons-in-law. . . What a party awaited her on the far side banks of Jordan. Known to all as “Mama” or “Grandma”, she was an accomplished homemaker of immeasurable value to her family. She enjoyed many interests music, dancing and particularly the domestic arts of sewing, quilting, and crochet, although she had little spare time to indulge herself with these creative outlets. She did not particularly enjoy cooking, but was quite able to feed the masses that passed through her kitchen. She was adept at making do, and although she might have hoped for more, she was satisfied with what she had. She loved gardening and kept lovely flower beds even in her years of declining health. She was appreciated for her skill in caring for the young and the infirm, and for managing a household on meager means. She was generous to a fault. She came from a time when one’s word was considered sacred, proof of their character, something to be honored, not to be careless with…yet she mirrored the gentle nature of the good shepherd in her ability to love and forgive. Merle is survived by her second husband, Roy Turner, who has been her constant companion and friend for 18 years. All her children survive her: George K. and Rosa Marie Carpenter of El Paso, Francis and Billy Tackett of Georgetown, J.B.and Janet Carpenter of Taylor, Janet Worrell of Liberty Hill, Ruth Ann Carpenter of Leander, Carol and Albert Raper of Katy, Doris and Ken Hastings of Birmingham, Alabama, Brenda and Jim Hudson of Briggs, Nina Conn of Katy, Carl and Robin Carpenter of Briggs, Steven and Leora Carpenter of Orange, Troy Wayne Burgess of Leander, and Linda Burgess of Austin. Five surviving siblings are Edna Bryant of Brady, Simmon Lambert of Austin, Johnny Lambert of Georgetown, James Lambert of Georgetown, and Betty Madsen of Liberty Hill. Mama was extremely proud of her 38 grandchildren, 53 great grandchildren, and 11 great-great grandchildren. Visitation will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday evening and from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Friday morning at the Briggs Baptist Church. Funeral services will begin at the church at 11 a.m. Friday. Burial will be at Wesley Chapel Cemetery on Andice Road. Memorial gifts may be made to the American Cancer Society.