Nelda Beth Carpenter

Nelda Beth Beeman Carpenter, age 84, of Gatesville, passed away on January 10, 2019.   Visitation will be held at Scott’s Funeral Home on Monday, January 14, 2019 from 1:00 – 2:00 pm and there will be a private family graveside service at Restland Cemetery immediately following. Nelda was born to Ross Wells and Elizabeth Honey Beeman on January 1st, 1935 in Snyder, Texas.  She attended schools in California and started school in Gatesville in 1945 until her senior year, when her family moved to Odessa.  She graduated with honors from Odessa High School in 1953.  Even though she moved to Odessa she stayed close with her GHS 1953 Classmates and celebrated at their 65th High School Class Reunion.  After graduation from Odessa High, she moved to Oklahoma City where she met and married, Billy C. Carpenter of Fairview, Missouri on May 17th, 1957.  The family moved to Neosho, Missouri in 1964.  She was a resident of Neosho for 30 years, where she worked as a bookkeeper for Neosho Lumber Company, Tapjac Home Center and Tyler’s Furniture and Carpet.  She was a member of DeMolay’s Mother’s Club and Calvary Baptist Church in Neosho.  In 1985 she relocated to Dallas, Texas where she again worked as a bookkeeper for A-1 Plastics and ended her career, retiring from The Jewish Community Center of Dallas.  Upon retirement, Nelda moved back to her hometown of Gatesville.  She was true “do it yourself” lady.  Having a home was very important to Nelda, and she loved working on her house, and always tinkering around to keep it nice and well taken care of, if you drove by it wouldn’t be a surprise to find her on the roof.  She loved working outside, mowing, weeding and keeping a well-groomed yard was a personal joy.  Anyone who spent any time with her knew her to be amazingly handy, outspoken but gracious, brave, courageous and kind.   She was a proud member of Live Oak Baptist Church, Gatesville. Nelda was preceded in death by her parents, and her brothers and sisters, Adell Chalene, Rayburn Beeman, Colleen Martin, Nadine Charrier, Maxine Hayter, and Ramona “Mickie” Jones.  Nelda is survived by her brother, James C. Beeman, Bonham TX; two sons, William T. Carpenter of Anderson SC, and Jay C. Carpenter of Dallas.  Also her daughter-in-law, Andria Carpenter and three granddaughters, Madison Simonson of Dallas, Savannah Carpenter and Mekenzie Carpenter of Greenville, SC. Nelda and her family wishes to thank the staff at Vasiek Cancer Center, Baylor S&W in Temple for their unwavering support and care, specifically Dr. Ashwini Bhat for all her special care, guidance and support over the last 7 years.  Their personalized attention and compassion was unparalleled. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Live Oak Baptist Church or St. Judes Children’s Hospital.