Julie Illona Rea Carpenter

Julie Illona Rea Carpenter
Dallas, Oregon
April 27, 1943 to September 14, 2018
Julie Illona (Rea) Carpenter, 75, a resident of Dallas, Oregon died September 14, 2018 at the Edward F. Tokarski Hospice Home, Salem, Oregon. Her husband, Bill, was at her side. She had been suffering from a long battle with cancer diagnosed in 2012.

She was born April 27, 1943, to James F and Laurel J (Miller) Rea in Wenatchee, Washington.
Her father worked for the Corps of Engineers at Chief Joseph Dam, and her mother was an RN at the Brewster clinic.

Julie graduated from Bridgeport High School, Bridgeport, Washington in 1961, and attended Central Washington State College in Ellensburg, Washington, Marylhurst University in Portland, Oregon, and Shasta College in Redding, California.  She was voted Miss Activity in High School…debate team and event organizer.

Julie enjoyed the mountains and worked one summer at Lassen National Park.  During the summer of 1963 she was employed by the Washington State Dept. of Natural Resources as a Fire Lookout on Aeneas Moutain.  One beautiful Saturday afternoon she was visited by a young professional forester working for the nearby Conconully Ranger District…. it was love at first sight.  That fall on November 2, 1963 she married William V. Carpenter in St. James Episcopal Church, Brewster, Washington.

For the next 36 years Julie and Bill relocated often as he pursued a career with the USDA-Forest Service.  They had a short tour with the Gifford Pinchot National Forest at Randle, Washington before transferring to the Big Summit District on the Ochoco National Forest  near Prineville, Oregon where Julie worked as a dental assistant for the late Dr. Say.  

The family then moved to Sweet Home, Oregon where Bill served as District Ranger on the Willamette National Forest  for 6-1/2 years.  In addition to caring for two young sons, Cory and Eric, Julie found time for community involvement, including serving on the local school board and the planning commission, and for church activities.  She worked as a floral designer at Santiam Feed and Seed, and became a Master Calligrapher, studying with the late Lloyd J. Reynolds, and taught Italic calligraphy as a guest instructor at Linn-Benton Community College.

The next move took them to the Black Hills National Forest  at Custer, South Dakato where, together with two friends, Julie opened the Pasqueflower Gift Shop selling local arts and crafts.  She also gave private lessons in the art of calligraphy.

When Bill received a promotion to the Shasta-Trinity National Forest , the family moved to Redding, California.  Julie enrolled at Shasta College to satisfy her thirst for more education, worked at a local retail store, and was involved in church activities.  She enjoyed canoeing, fishing, target shooting, photography, and general sightseeing in the local area.

After Bill’s retirement in 1994 their goal was to return to the PNW which led them to Dallas, Oregon.  Julie was active in the Polk County Republican Women’s organization, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, and doing what she had always love…. being in the kitchen baking goodies for church functions, as well as for friends and neighbors.

Julie was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, brother Thomas, son Eric Carpenter; in-laws Phyllis Alex, Gerald Carpenter, Floyd Carpenter, and Kenneth Storm.

Survivors include William, her husband of 55 years, son Cory and wife Anne (Covington) Carpenter, grandson Theodore Carpenter; brothers: James Allen and wife Jean (Wagner) Rea, Bill C. and wife Jody (Powers) Rea; Iin-laws: Aunt Elsie (Carpenter) Voyles, Lawrence Alex,  Gene and wife Jackie (Thorfinson) Carpenter, Bruce Carpenter, John and wife Sheree (Connors) Carpenter, Chan (Luong) Carpenter, Marcia (Boyer) Carpenter,  Sharon (Carpenter) Storm, David and wife Elaine (Albee) Carpenter, Mary Covington, Marilyn Lane, James and Gretchen Covington: 17 nieces, Laurie (Rea) Becker, Jennifer (Rea) Basset, Allana (Rea) Garcia, MacKenzie Rea, Alexis Rea, Joani (Gray) Paul, Wendy (Carpenter) Keema, Susan (Carpenter) Martin, Amy (Carpenter) Gaulke, Polly (Carpenter) Gaulke, Korin Carpenter, Jaclyn Carpenter, Johanna Carpenter, Cathy (Carpenter) Turnbull, Kristi (Storm) Harrison, Carla Storm, and Katie (Carpenter) Reichert: 11 nephews, Douglas Gray, Paul Gray, Jeffery Carpenter, James Carpenter, Micheal Carpenter, Steve Carpenter, Timothy Carpenter, Brian Storm, Jeramiah Storm, Benjamin Carpenter, and Phillip Carpenter and  many grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Memorial service were held on Saturday, October 6, 2018 at 1 p.m. at the Bollman Funeral Home, Dallas, Oregon with Rev Todd Bassett officiating.  
The family asked in lieu of flowers please send memorials to the American Diabetes Association, American Cancer Society, or Willamette Valley Hospice Home, 1015 3rd Street NW, Salem, Oregon.