John grew up on the family ranch in southeastern Roger Mills County and graduated from Hammon High School in 1959. He was very involved in Future Farmers of America, highlighted by being a member of the Hammon FFA team that won the 1959 National Land and Range Judging competition. A lifelong outdoorsman, John took a great interest in waterfowl at an early age and could easily identify any duck or goose. In his teen years his hunting efforts produced enough down for several pillows. He was an active member of the non-profit organization Ducks Unlimited, Inc., the leader in wetland and waterfowl conservation. He enjoyed listening to music by Johnny Cash, and others such as Waylon Jennings, Bobby Bare, Marty Robbins and Merle Haggard. He was also a World War II buff, watching documentaries and reading books about it, especially those involving aircraft. After graduation, John helped out on the ranch for a few months, then joined the United States Navy, reporting for duty in March 1960 and completing his service in March 1964 with a rank designation of Aviation Structural Mechanic 2 (AMS2). His initial assignment was at Naval Support Activity Mid-South base outside of Memphis, TN for training in Airman Fundamentals and Aircraft Structures. As an Aviation Structural Mechanic, John was one of the few people who could say he could work on every inch of every kind of Navy aircraft, keeping a close eye on every system and piece of equipment. He could easily identify different types of aircraft, much like he did varieties of ducks and geese. John was stationed at the Naval Air Station Bermuda from January 1961 through October 1962 and was assigned to the Expeditionary – Cuban Military Operation, for which he received a medal. After the US discovered Soviet nuclear missiles had been secretly installed in Cuba, John was a structural mechanic on Martin P5M Marlins – the largest and last flying boats utilized by the US Navy. His squadron served as an anti-submarine air patrol for Naval Station Guantanamo Bay during the Cuban Missile Crisis. After finishing his stint in the US Navy in New Iberia, LA, John returned to Western Oklahoma, purchased a truck and combine, and began doing custom harvesting. He was later joined by his brother Daniel, with another truck and combine. Although John drove trucks for various companies and businesses through the years, he also continued harvesting locally for a long time. For several recent years, John has been in a farming and ranching partnership with his brother Charles. One of John’s first trucking jobs was driving regularly to the Army base at Fort Hood (now Fort Cavazos), TX for Elk City’s Kelly Dairy; he later hauled primarily oil and lumber for Bray Truck Lines of Cushing, OK; picked up and delivered farm equipment, as well as new equipment from the factory, for King-Lindsey, Inc. of Cordell, OK; and moved frac tanks for Southern Tanks’ Elk City yard.

Survivors include: his daughter: Ashley Dickey, grandson: Austin Sutherlin, granddaughter: Alyssa Rodriguez, brothers: Frank (Scharleen) Carpenter, Charles Carpenter, and Russell (Cody) Carpenter; sisters: Cynthia Carpenter and Belinda Sullivan; sisters-in-law: Anita Carpenter and Mary Fern Carpenter; nephews: Cham (Amy) Carpenter, Andrew (Melanie Neal) Carpenter, Christopher (Bridget) Carpenter; Eric (Tiffany Bjorlie) Hilaire, Edmund Cade Carpenter, Frank (Patsy) Sullivan, Jon Mark (Jordan) Sullivan; Caleb (Courtney) Carpenter, and Colton (Brittany) Carpenter. Also, nieces: Pam (Gale) Parman, Paula (Jerry) Brown, Teresa (Kelly) Kilhoffer, Cheri’ (Shawn) Tennery, Kahler (John Partain) Simmons, Karli Carpenter, Kirsten (Brock) Vaughn, and Jesi (Norman) Robison; 11 great nephews, 16 great nieces and 1 great-great nephew; a host of other relatives; and many, many friends and associates. Preceding John in death were: his parents, Edmund Clifford and Johnnie Belle Parks Carpenter; two brothers, Clifford Cody Carpenter and Daniel Lee Carpenter; former wife, Suzanne Houser; brother-in law, Mark Sullivan; sister-in-law, Robyn Gammon Carpenter; and a nephew-in-law, Billy Bankston.

Services are scheduled at 2 p.m. Saturday, December 7 in the Elk City Fairlawn Cemetery Chapel with Pastor Dolan Ivey officiating. Burial will follow in Grandview Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, December 6 from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. at Whinery Funeral Service, on the corner of Country Club and Washington Streets in Elk City.