CHESTER CARPENTER

Chester Carpenter, 77, resident of Richards, Mo., died Friday, Jan. 27, 2012, at the Via Christi Hospital in Wichita, Kan. He was born Jan. 22, 1935, in Deerfield, Mo., the son of Herbert Carpenter and Bessie Houk Carpenter. He was a graduate of Richards High School. Chester married Betty Dixon on May 1, 1955, in Fort Scott. He retired from Hallmark Card Company in Kansas City and Liberty prior to moving to Richards. He also worked for Ray Shepherd Motors and the Metz County road crew as well as his own farm. He was active in the Richards Mason Lodge No. 495. He had been a member of the Fort Scott Scottish Rite and the Pittsburg Mirza Shrine His hobby was to drive his "Love Bug" with Shrine brethren in area parades.

Survivors include his wife Betty, of the home; four sons, Clifford Carpenter and wife Donita, Excelsior Springs, Mo., David Carpenter and wife Teresa, Jasper, Mo., Norman Carpenter and wife Tonia, Tennessee, and Carl Carpenter and wife Myrna, Nevada, Mo. Also surviving is a sister, Janice Yordy, Independence, Mo.; five grandchildren, Matthew Carpenter, Rebecca Carpenter, Brian Carpenter, Chad Carpenter and Jakob Crays; and several nieces and nephews.

Pastor Bill Smith will conduct funeral services at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1, in the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in Deerfield Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Masonic services will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday during the visitation by the Richards Lodge.

Memorials are suggested to the Richards Masonic Lodge and may be sent to Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, Kan. 66701.

Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.