Thelma Levada "Tootie" Carpenter, 87, departed this life to go to her Heavenly home on Monday, January 19, 2009.

She was born in Bluefield, WV to Samuel H. and Lura E. Morris on June 26, 1921. She was educated in Mercer County Schools, graduating from Bluefield High School in 1938. She graduated from the Salvation Army Officers Training College in Atlanta, Georgia in 1940, a member of the "HOLDFAST" Session.

She was married on July 7, 1942 to D. Elvin Carpenter who is her survivor. She is also survived by a son Felix Alan Carpenter of Charleston. Two grandchildren, Alan Nash Carpenter and Jennifer Elizabeth Carpenter, both of Hurricane. She is also survived by one sister, Mrs. Elva K. Taylor of Hardy, VA.

Along with her parents she was preceded in death by two brothers, Rev. Ira E. "Dick" Morris and Harold M. "Jiggs" Morris. Three sisters, Irene Morris (infant), Mrs. Dorothy "Dot" McPherson of Dunbar and Mrs. Alma "Jammie" Clarke of Bluefield and Charleston. She is survived by many nieces and nephews whom she loved as if they were her own along with a host of friends and relatives.

After marriage she started attending the Mountain Mission in Charleston where she was a choir member and a member of the Mountain Mission Octet. At the Mission in 1960 she took the position of social worker in the Social Services Department until 2003 when she retired due to health reasons after 43 years service.

She had been a member of Cross Lanes Bible Church since 1974.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, January 23, at Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar, with Pastor Dan Berger, Pastor Dave Buckley and Pastor Fairley McCormick officiating. Interment will follow in Tyler Mountain Memory Gardens, Cross Lanes.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, January 22, at Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar.

Special thanks to HospiceCare and staff for their concern and tender loving care during the last weeks of her illness. She dearly loved her family physicians Drs. Jean and Susan Cavender.