Marilyn Joyce Carpenter

Marilyn Joyce Carpenter, 83 of Missoula passed away May 21, 2015 at St. Patrick Hospital.
Marilyn was born July 3, 1931 in Inglewood, CA, to John M. and Margaret J. Robertson. She was raised in San Marino, CA attending school there and graduating from South Pasadena " San Marino High School in 1949. She attended the University of California at Santa Barbara, Pasadena City College and the Sawyer School of Business. She married Charles W. Clay, Jr. in 1953 and they were divorced in 1970. He passed away in 1975. They had 3 children, Deborah Ann, Robert William and Ellen Margaret.
In 1969, she came to Hamilton, Montana to start a new life. She owned and operated Valley Christian Supplies in Hamilton for six years, which was "a wonderful adventure."
In 1980, she met and married Lyman T. Carpenter and they enjoyed 26 years of marriage before his death in 2006. Marilyn committed her life to Jesus Christ at the age of 33. She and Lyman both were members of the Assembly of God Church in Hamilton for many years, until they moved to The Springs in Missoula to be closer to their family. She later joined the Christian Life Center in Missoula.
Surviving include a son, Robert (Carrie) Carpenter of Missoula; daughters, Debbie (Larry) Johanesen of Newport, OR and Ellen (Joel) Purkerson of Corvallis, OR; step-daughter, Luana (Roger) Hungerford of Missoula; step-son, Lawrence (Kathy) Carpenter of Grantsdale; sixteen grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, a nephew and two nieces.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 30th at the Hamilton Assembly of God Church in Hamilton. The family suggests memorials to Teen Challenge Missoula, P.O. Box 573, Lolo, MT 59847 or Union Gospel Mission 3:16, 10450 Mullen Road, Missoula, MT 59808.