Dennis Carpenter, 84, of Lake City, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at the Haven-Tri-Counties Hospice Care Center in Chiefland, Florida.  He was born February 14, 1940 in Branford, Florida, to the late Lonnie Ward Carpenter and Leona Hunt Carpenter.

Mr. Carpenter graduated from Columbia High School in 1958. He attended South Georgia College in Douglas, Georgia, before graduating with his Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Florida State University in 1964. He valued education, paying for his children's education and his grandchildren's post-high school educational expenses.

Mr. Carpenter worked for Redisco from 1964 through 1965 and Dixie Bearings from 1966 through 1971.  In 1972, he went to work for Daniels Lumber, where he had been employed as a teenager during the summers of 1956 through 1958.  He became a shareholder when he partnered with Great South Timber to purchase Daniels Lumber and retired after a long, successful career in 2000.  He also pursued other business interests, including real estate investments and building and owning motels.

He was a founding member of the Boys Club of Columbia County, where he served on the Board of the Boys Club and in other roles.  He was an announcer for the Boys Club football and Little League sporting events.  He supported the Columbia County Livestock Fair, F.F.A., and numerous other local charities.

He raced cars at the Lake City Speedway in the late 1950s and later volunteered as the track announcer.  He enjoyed Florida State Seminole football and basketball, Florida Gateway College Timberwolves basketball, working outside in his yard, and spending time with his family.

Mr. Carpenter was of the Baptist faith and a longtime active member of the First Baptist Church of Lake City, where he served as a Deacon and volunteered in the church nursery and as a driver for the bus outreach bus ministry program.

Mr. Carpenter was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Betty Carpenter and Dorothy "Wardene" Brady, and one brother, Robert Carpenter.

Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Barbara Cason Carpenter of Lake City; his son, Kevin D. Carpenter (Julie) of St. Augustine; his daughter, Kim Carpenter- Herring (Dale) of Old Town; two sisters, Mary Ann Nettles (Rodney) of Lake City and Sandra Thomas (Charles) of Branford, and a sister-in-law, Ramona (Don) Norris of Lake City; seven grandchildren, Taylor Carpenter of South Beach, Miami, Lexi Svall Nordgren (Jesper) of Del Ray Beach, Brianna Tribou of Carlsbad, CA, Matt Herring (Kristen), Colby Herring (Britney), Sydney Valentine (Charlie) and Jabe Herring all of Old Town; and six great-grandchildren, Piper, Ramsey, Molly, Ryder, Gunner, and Briggs Herring, all of Old Town; and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and cousins.

Visitation with the family will be Friday evening, December 20th, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, at Gateway-Forest Lawn Funeral Home.

Funeral services for Mr. Carpenter will be held on Saturday, December 21, 2024, at 11:00 AM at the First Baptist Church of Lake City, with Rev. Robert Bass and Rev. Carl Chauncey officiating.  Interment will immediately follow at the Santa Fe Cemetery near Branford, Florida. The address is 27117 45th Road, Branford, FL 32008.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting memorial contributions be made to First Baptist Church of Lake City (182 NE Justice St, Lake City, FL 32055) or The Partnership for Strong Families in effort to update and enhance the visitation room in Trenton, Florida.  Both contributions can be made to First Baptist Church of Lake City and if the contribution is for the visitation room, please earmark the check by inputting, "Visitation Room" on the memo section of the check.

The visitation room is a location where foster children visit with biological parents once a week. Kim, Dennis's daughter, is spearheading this project and will oversee the renovation. A plaque will be made for this room in memory of

Mr. Dennis Carpenter.  The plaque will read,

"The Carpenters Place, the builders of hopes, dreams and self-esteem!"

This room was thoughtfully and lovingly created by friends and family that loved and cared for Mr. Dennis Carpenter and his family.  We are so pleased and happy to give back and provide a special place for our precious children and their families to reunite, bond and heal.

We hope you all enjoy this beautiful space and valuable time with your child/ren.

"Yesterday is history,

tomorrow is a mystery,

today is a gift.

That's why it's called the present."

By Alice Morse Earle

"Your presence of giving your time and attention is the best present,

so be mindful to be fully and lovingly present;

for it is the greatest gift a person can give and receive."

By Kim Carpenter-Herring, M.S.W., L.C.S.W., C.C.T.P.