Myrtle Louise Carpenter passed away in the early morning hours on September, 16, 2014. She was born January 21, 1918 in Tuscumbia, Alabama to George Amos Box and Clara D. Box. Visitation will be Thursday, 1-2 p.m. at Morrison Funeral Home of Tuscumbia. A graveside service will follow at 2:30 in Oakwood Cemetery, Tuscumbia with Rev. David Lee officiating. She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer E. “Mickey” Carpenter, brothers, Glen Box, Lynwood Box, George A. Box Jr., sister, Jane B. Patterson and her nephew, Craig Jordan. She graduated from Deshler High School and then from Florence State Teacher College. She later got her Master’s Degree in education from Peabody in Nashville. Mrs. Carpenter traveled abroad with her husband during the early years of his military career, and eventually settled in Miami, Florida to pursue her passion for teaching elementary aged children. She retired from a long career in education as an elementary school vice principal in Dade County, Florida. After retirement she and her husband Mickey moved to Florence to be close to family and friends. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Tuscumbia and Delta Kappa Gamma in Florence. She enjoyed traveling, reading and bird watching. She loved her family and remained close to her brothers and sisters and their children throughout her life. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Patricia Box of Nashville, Ill; nieces, Bonnie Conner of Navada City, CA, Nancy Pugh (Charles) of Erie, CO, Ann Gray (Bill) of Champaign, IL; nephews, Joe M. Patterson (Peggy) of Florence, AL, Mitch Patterson (Sherry) of Gulf Shores, AL, John Box (Carol) of Chicago, IL, Kenneth Box (Cindy) of Lilburn, GA, along with many grand-nieces and nephews; special friends, Kathy Jordan of CA and cousin, Annie Ruth Greenwald of Florence, AL. The family wishes to express their appreciation to the employees and staff of Mitchell Hollingsworth for the love and support they provided to their “Aunt Louise” during the time she spent there. She was a gracious lady who served the Lord in the way she lived. She will be missed by those she leaves behind, but greeted with open arms to those she joins.
