Mary Lou Carpenter

Mary Lou Carpenter, 91, passed away on September 4, 2019  at Nottingham Health & Rehabilitation.

Mary Lou was born August 6, 1928 in Russell, Kansas, the daughter of Clarence and Edith (Geesling) Thuma.  She graduated from High School in Manhattan, KS and earned a degree in Elementary Education from KS State University. During college she met her surviving and loving husband, Dewey Carpenter of 69 years.  She taught elementary school in Rolla and Meade, KS. She also taught "English as a 2nd language" to adults. After raising her family in Meade, Mary Lou tapped into her sense of adventure by becoming a bus tour guide that took tour groups all over the US.  She later relocated with Dewey to Mission, TX to enjoy retirement, friends and the sunny climate.  Once again, she volunteered to teach others, tutoring numerous children in the Mission, TX school system.

She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend.  She loved having fun, caring for people and finding delight in the experiences this life offered.  She carried herself with grace and also a spice of the free child.  She had an unlimited supply  of warmth to give.  To Mary Lou there were no strangers, just friends waiting to be made.

She is predeceased by her brother, Richard "Dick" Thuma and her parents.  Surviving in addition to her husband Dewey, are her daughter Patti Combs and her husband, Terry, of Overland Park, KS; son Greg Carpenter and his wife, Elizabeth, of Rehoboth, MA; six grandchildren: Nikki Combs of Liberty, MO; Brooke (Kevin) Coffey of Denver, CO; Spencer Combs of Orlando, FL; Tyler Combs of Overland Park, KS; David Carpenter of Seekonk, MA; and Sarah Carpenter of Norwood, MA; four great-grandchildren: Nicolas Perez and Samiyah Boyer; Henry and Harper Coffey.

A service of remembrance will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, September 13, 2019 at Indian Heights United Methodist Church, 10211 Nall Ave, Overland Park, KS. The Rev. Ali Haynes will officiate.  Burial will be September 14 at the Pawnee Rock, KS Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, 28 W. 44th St., Suite 609, New York, NY 10036 or www.bcrf.org.