Last updated on September 28, 2022
Margaret Ellyn Carpenter, age 63, of Rockwall, TX, peacefully and unexpectedly passed away July 22, 2022. She was born August 19, 1958, in St. Louis, MO, to Normagene and Duane Carpenter, the 5th of 6 children. Margaret was a happy baby, delighting both her parents and her siblings. At the age of 22 months Margaret had a life changing event – she contracted measles, running a fever so high it left her with learning disabilities. Nonetheless she was courageous in life and lived it to the fullest. In her father’s skates in the basement of the family home, she taught herself to roller skate. She enjoyed neighborhood bike rides with friends and exploring the nearby woods. She learned to swim. She played softball and enjoyed Friday night dances with friends. She graduated from The Special School District of St. Louis County, Missouri in May 1979 and enjoyed many years working at The Workshop in Florissant, Missouri where she performed many jobs, including operating the large machinery.
Margaret was a lover of all animals. Perhaps an anomaly, she loved cats and dogs equally. She had a special orange tabby cat named Carrots and her favorite dog was the Boston Terrier. Throughout her home were many mementos of her “Bostons” Barnaby and Duchess. Animals loved her too. At family reunions in the mountains, chipmunks would surround her, perching themselves on her lap as she literally fed them from her hand. She loved birds, with the Cardinal as a favorite (maybe as homage to her favorite baseball team the St. Louis Cardinals); hummingbirds ranked near the top of the list too. She had several hummingbird feeders so she could enjoy the hummers, always delighting when they were near. Other birds benefitted from her generosity as she kept them fed with seed cakes, bird feed, and treats.
Margaret enjoyed flowers and plants of all colors and varieties. She was always rooting some plant or another and happy to give you “a start”. She helped in the church community garden and could be found around her home with her hands in the dirt planting sweet potato vine, mums, impatiens, coleus, she knew them all. She gushed about her flower box where she showcased Texas bluebonnets, snapdragons, petunias, coneflowers, and more. Her porch was so full of potted plants and flowers it was sometimes difficult to find a place to sit!
Margaret enjoyed arts and crafts and was always excited to show off her latest creation. She fashioned Mother’s Day hats, painted with her unique perspective, formed plaster garden mushrooms, cross stitched bibs and pillowcases, and most recently was quilting a bird covered fabric for a lap robe. She kept her hands busy and has left a legacy of loving handmade projects and gifts.
And people – oh did she love people! Margaret was an example of a caring and loving soul, never meeting a person she could not love and help. She was compassionate, empathetic, and loved unconditionally. Everyone she met was deserving of her time, attention, and love. She was generous with her time, always willing to lend a helping hand, and generally the first to volunteer her assistance and the last to stop working. Nothing was too much to ask, no job too big or too menial. She was simply happy to be of service, always wearing her bright, infectious smile. Margaret loved babies and children and was especially proud of her many nieces and nephews.
Christmas was her favorite holiday – the decorations, the lights, the trees, finding just the right presents for family and friends, and the celebration of Jesus’ birth! She decorated with reckless abandon and sang Christmas carols to her heart’s content. She fancied the Christmas goodies so much that every Christmas while growing up she made herself ill and nearly missed opening the presents!
Margaret loved a good pizza, a root beer float, a good cup of coffee, and a Braum’s hot fudge sundae! Also at the top of the list – a good taco salad and nachos el grande, piled high with meat and cheese and jalapenos! She enjoyed these foods with friends and family engaged in a good conversation. She relished country music and once went on a cruise with country music stars, a true thrill for her. She attended church regularly, was inspired by the music and always sang like no one was listening! Her favorite hymn was “Jesus Loves Me”. Her favorite color was red.
Margaret lived joyfully and experienced life with passion. For those who knew her, Margaret has left an indelible imprint on their heart.
Margaret was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Rockwall. Margaret will be missed dearly by those who knew and loved her.
Margaret is survived by her mother: Normagene Carpenter; siblings: Candi Lu Glancy and husband Fletcher, Jack Carpenter and wife Gwen, Daryl Carpenter and wife Karen, and Dana Allen and husband Mark; numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her father: Duane Carpenter; her brother: Carl Carpenter, and her great niece: Miquela Carpenter.
A Celebration of Life / Memorial Service is scheduled at Liberty Heights Independent Living Center in Rockwall, Texas on October 15th at 3:00pm. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations are made in Margaret’s name to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society or the ASPCA.
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