James Richard "Jim" Carpenter

James Richard “Jim” Carpenter, 85, of Lake Charles, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 7, 2021, in a Winnfield, LA care facility.

Mr. Carpenter was born in Crowley, LA on February 13, 1936, to Effie Hebert Carpenter and William Murray Carpenter, Sr., the family then moving to Lake Charles.  He graduated from Landry High School in 1955.  He attended McNeese State University from 1955 through 1959.  Mr. Carpenter received the commission of 2^nd Lieutenant in ROTC in 1959 and then went into the Army.  He was in the Army Reserve until 1982 and retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.  He was a member of Local 106 from 1966 to 2001.  In 1997, he started James Carpenter Builder, Inc. and developed part of Gulfgate Subdivision.  Mr. Carpenter built homes and commercial properties including Petro Bowl and Pat’s of Henderson’s Restaurant.  He loved spending time with his family.  Mr. Carpenter was also a pilot and enjoyed flying.  He was a member of Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church.

He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Patricia LeDoux Carpenter; brother, Frank Carpenter; daughter, Donna Barger and husband Barry; daughter, Linda Brosnahan and husband Kenneth of Marietta, GA; daughter, Sandra Ackman; son, Mark Carpenter; daughter, Theresa Schmid and husband Steve of San Clemente, CA; daughter, Christina Carpenter of Gladstone, OR; 14 grandchildren; and 3 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Effie Hebert Carpenter and William Murray Carpenter, Sr.; brother, William “Bill” Carpenter, Jr.; and granddaughter, Lindsay Brosnahan.

A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, July 12, 2021, in St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church.  Father Levy Thompson will officiate.  Burial will follow in Consolata Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home.  Visitation will begin in the church at 9:00 AM with a rosary being recited at 10:30 AM.