Our beautiful, loving mother, Edith June Carpenter Ward, age 93, passed away on March 11, 2021, after a long and fulfilling life. She was born on Sept. 4, 1927 in Manti, Utah to Joseph Gerald Carpenter and Mary Koch Carpenter. She grew up in a home filled with love, hard work, and service to others. Making friends was easy for her as she was happy, and full of fun. She and her friends were involved in traveling, going to dances, and attending the many community events. During her high school years, they worked in canneries providing food for the troops during WWII, many of whom were from Manti. Her greatest love was music, singing and playing the piano. She also enjoyed oil painting, sports, sewing, gardening, and crafts.
After high school graduation in 1945, she attended Snow College in Ephriam. She worked as a secretary for U.S. Steel in Salt Lake City. While there, she met Craig Marsden Ward. It was love at first sight and they were married in the Manti Temple on Feb. 24, 1950. They began their life together in SLC, then moved to Idaho, finally settling in Oregon. This is where they raised their family of six children. These were challenging times but happy ones. Her five daughters and one son were the joy of her life. She was devoted to her husband of 61 years and her children.
The family resided in the Pacific Northwest for 40 years, taking trips to the seaside, swimming and picnicking at all the area lakes and parks, touring the cities around the state, and learning to appreciate the beauties of nature. June and the family were actively involved in their church. She was the organist in various wards for 23 years. Because of their love of music, they were involved in plays, musical productions, choirs, and performances. She and Craig held various positions of leadership and were the first ones to volunteer if service was needed. June was an excellent cook and, to the delight of the children, would often invite the LDS missionaries to dinner and a rousing game of ping pong. June and Craig loved being around people, sharing what they had been blessed with. When Craig retired, they returned to Salt Lake City in 1993. Craig passed away in 2011 and June continued to enjoy her children and grandchildren. As her health began to decline, she moved to Mapleton in 2020 to be closer to family. She endured life well, taught her children to love the Lord, serve others, and always be grateful for each day.
June is survived by her six children: Jill Bailey (Richard) of Texas, Dianne Blackett (Douglas) of Utah, Clark Rex Ward (Denise) of Utah, Pamela Potter of Utah, Marie Woolf of California, and Janet Francis (John) of Oregon. She has 15 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren. Survivors also include brothers Carl Carpenter and Arthur Carpenter, sister Ruth Johnson.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, March 20, 2021 at 11am at the Salt Lake City Cemetery, 200 N Street, SLC UT.
The family would like to thank the staff at Mapleton Spring Gardens for their love and kindness to June during the last years of her life.
June was an instant friend. One of the most loving ladies I know. She taught me a lot about patience. I never heard her complain. She was always the first to say yes when needed. She will be missed. Glad I got to know and love her. Her family was everything to her. They are so blessed to have her as a mom. ❤️
I knew June at church and at Zion Summit where she exchanged jigsaw puzzles with my mother. June was a member of our September birthday club, which goes to lunch together every September. I enjoyed conversations with June and missed her when she moved to Spring Gardens Mapleton last year. I'm sad to hear of her passing and miss her even more now.