Obituary: Juanita Carpenter

Raised in Whitefish, Montana, during the Depression, she graduated high school in Cut Bank, Montana, in 1945. She spent the war years working for Bell Telephone, in Shelby, Montana, as a switchboard operator. In 1946-47, Juanita enrolled at Northwest Nazarene College, where she majored in elementary education. There, she also met her future husband, Donald Carpenter, who was majoring in Music Education. They were married in 1948, and four years later started their family.

Juanita, Donald, and their two boys spent many years in Idaho and Montana before moving to The Dalles in 1957. Juanita took a job as a bookkeeper with the Apex Finance Company. However, having an appreciation for the arts, and being a talented piano player, it wasn’t long before she was hired by The Dalles School District No. 12 as an elementary music education specialist. Juanita would travel from school to school, classroom to classroom, teaching music appreciation, singing, and playing simple instruments.

During the summers, Juanita and her husband would pack up the family, move to Portland, and attend summer school at Portland State University. In doing so, Juanita finished her degree in elementary education. With a Bachelor’s of Science certificate in hand, Juanita accepted a 3rd grade teaching position at Dry Hollow Elementary.

When her children were independent enough, she again enrolled at Portland State University in pursuit of a Masters degree. Juanita would commute to Portland for classes during the day, only to return home in time to give piano lessons.

Possessing an affinity for the arts, and as a noted bibliophile, Juanita was awarded with a Master’s degree in media acience. These credentials allowed her to finish her career in the service of youth in the community as a school librarian. In fact, one of her granddaughter’s-in-law vividly remembers how engaging her library was at Colonel Wright Elementary, no doubt partly due to the introduction of Apple Computers and “The Oregon Trail” computer game, as well as Juanita’s ability to share her love of books. True to form, Juanita’s family is still discovering in her possession personally signed tomes by the likes of authors such as Shel Silverstein, Maurice Sendak, Eric Carle, and Beverly Cleary.

When it came time to retire from serving the school community, Juanita remained engaged with philanthropic organizations such as P.E.O. International and Daughters of the American Revolution, volunteering as a docent at Maryhill Museum of Art, she had substantial social involvement in Bridge and Golf at The Dalles Country Club, and the Swap and Swing Square Dance Club. She was, later in life, limited with her active travel time enjoyment due to a freak accident that severely limited her ability to use her legs and hands.

Juanita is survived by her sister, Naomi (Phillip) Beymer of Eugene, Oregon; her son Michael (Lynn) Carpenter of The Dalles; her grandsons Kyle (Jennifer) Carpenter of Aurora, Oregon, and Cory (Karyn) Carpenter of Bozeman, Montana; three great-grandsons, Conley, Kase, and Cutler; and one great-granddaughter, Wren; As well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald; son, Steven; parents, and brothers, Calvin, Norman, and Donald Crofford.

Juanita will be remembered for her love of teaching youth, her fierce intellect, her knowledge and appreciation of art, fashion, film, music, and literature, her wonderful culinary talents, her dry sense of humor, and the overall class that she conveyed. She was truly quite the lady, admired for how she could do whatever she set out to do. Donations, in her honor, may be made to the The Dalles-Wasco County Library, or the Oregon Veterans Home. Her family would like to give special thanks for their wonderful care and support at OVH.

Arrangements are under the direction of Spencer, Libby, and Powell; 1100 Kelly Ave., The Dalles, where condolences/remembrances may be directed.