Phyllis Ruth Carpenter

Longtime Grand Junction resident Phyllis Ruth Carpenter passed away from complications of Parkinson’s disease on August 18, 2022. She was 80 years-old. The daughter of Rev. W.F. Wilson and Eula (Reed), Phyllis was born on January 21, 1942 in Childress, TX. In 1947 she moved from Texas to Colorado with her family to Dove Creek, and on to Grand Junction in 1953.

After graduating from Central High School in 1960, Phyllis earned an associate degree from Mesa Junior College. On April 12, 1963, Phyllis was married to Thomas Ray Carpenter by her father in the church next to her home.

When her husband joined the Colorado State Patrol in 1968, the young family moved to the front range to what was then a small community of Lafayette, CO. After her husband was killed in the line-of-duty in late December of 1973, Phyllis and her children moved back to Grand Junction to be closer to her parents. Phyllis returned to Mesa College and graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Human Services. A single mother, Phyllis worked for the Women’s Resource Center, was named Human Service Provider of the year, and would become the Director of the Mesa County Mental Health Association.

In addition to her work with the Mesa County Mental Health Association, Phyllis was asked to provided workshops around country and served as national trainer for the Widowed Persons Services (W.P.S). In 1986, Phyllis helped develop and adapt the W.P.S. peer support model for the newly formed Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S). and provided training for some of their first peer support volunteers. In addition, Phyllis led workshops in Washington D.C. during the week of the National Peace Officers Memorial Day from 1986 until 1995; and served on C.O.P.S.’s national board as the Plains Trustee from 1994-1995.

In 1990, Phyllis moved to Denver to build a program to provide assistance to parents of children and adolescents dealing with behavioral and mental health issues for the Mental Health Association of Colorado. In addition, she was an advocate supporting families of adopted children and received the Founders Award from The Federation of Families in 1997.

After she retired, Phyllis moved back to Grand Junction where she enjoyed discovering and sharing her family’s genealogy. She especially enjoyed sharing pictures and an occasional ice cream cone! Most of all, Phyllis loved spending time talking with her family and friends.

In addition to her parents, Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband, her sister Floydene, and her brothers Thomas Ray and Robert Earl. She is survived by her son Clay and his wife Diane; her daughter Sheila and her husband Brian; her son Cory and his wife Becky; and her nine grandchildren (Taylor, Shannon, Jennifer, Jordyn, Sienna, Hannah, Devan, Lauren & Philip); and eight great-grandchildren.

Graveside services at Orchard Mesa Cemetery will be determined at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to Concerns of Police Survivors; or Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.callahan-edfast.com for the Carpenter family.

The Way I Take

by Phyllis Carpenter

“But He knows the way I take;

When he has tested me,

I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:10 (NIV)

He has gone each step before me,

So He knows the way I take,

He has journeyed ever footstep,

And has felt His own heart break.

He has carried every burden,

And has fallen ‘neath the load,

And risen again victorious

To journey on down life’s road.

He has borne every sorrow,

As He walk the narrow way,

And felt the power of darkness

As Knelt alone to pray.

Why should I fear the journey,

As I my footsteps make,

For He has gone each step before me,

So He knows the way I take.