Obituary of Lealand Carpenter

Lealand "Lee" Carpenter Jr. (80) lifetime St. Maries area resident, died Feb. 13, 2012 at St. Maries, ID. He was born December 18, 1931 to Lee and Eva (Banaster) Carpenter Sr. at St. Maries. Lee grew up in St. Joe City and moved to St. Maries when he was 13 years old. He attended schools in St. Maries. As a young man, he worked for various logging companies and Moe's Mill at Spring Creek up the St. Joe River. He entered the U. S. Army in 1952 during the Korean war and was discharged the following year. When he returned home, Lee went to work for the St. Maries Lumber Co. He married Myrtle Greene on Sept. 7, 1958 at St. Maries. He went to work for the U.S. Forest Service in the 1960's. He worked manning lookout towers, building trails and fighting fires. As a foreman, he left the Forest Service to work for the Idaho Dept. of Lands where he continued to work as a foreman. He spent a total of 26 years between both Departments before retiring in 1986. His wife died in 1994. Lee was a published author and wrote books entitled "Firefighters and Lookouts" "Old Times Not to Be forgotten" "Meadowhurst Memories" and his most recent book "Warriors of the Evergreen" He also wrote articles for the St. Maries Gazette Record and the Senior Post. Lee was a member of the St. Maries American Legion and a former member of the St. Maries Eagles Lodge. He is survived by son and daughters-in-law Nathan Carpenter and Janet and Jeff and Diane Carpenter all of St. Maries and his sister Sharon Derry of St. Maries. Also surviving are 2 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. He was preceded in death by daughter Molly Carpenter in 1961. Viewing will be held on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012 from 1:00 p.m. To 5:00 p.m. At Hodge Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery on May 16, 2012 at 11:00 A.M. Visit his online memorial and sign his guest book at www.hodgefuneralhome.com Read Lealand Carpenter Jr.'s Obituary and Guestbook on www.hodgefuneralhome.com.