Edna Ruth Carpenter

Edna Ruth West Carpenter, 95, of Decatur, passed away peacefully on August 13, 2026. She was born on December 20, 1930.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Garland Frazier Carpenter, who passed away in 2010. They were married for 57 years. Her parents, William Wayne and Pauline Haymore West; Stepmother, Florine Neal West; Infant Daughter, Edna Ruth Carpenter; Sisters, Helen Miller and Shirley Dukes; Daughter-in-law, Jacquelyn (Jackie) Carpenter, wife of Steven Frazier Carpenter.

She is survived by three sons, Roger Garland Carpenter (Judy), Roy Wayne Carpenter (Sybil), and Steven Frazier Carpenter of Decatur; granddaughters, Kelley Carpenter (Kevin May) of Nashville, Amber Stanfield, and Angie Brown (Zac) of Decatur; grandsons, Keith Carpenter (Bethany) of Morristown, Kevin Carpenter (Monica) of Cleveland; 10 great grandchildren, Vanessa May, Ivy Carpenter, Eden Carpenter, Bray Carpenter, Mia Brown, Stephanie Carpenter, McKenzie Carpenter, Chloe Carpenter, Reagan Carpenter, and Eva Brown and many nieces and nephews. Siblings: Eugene West (Clara), Rena Holt, Emily Asbell, Evelyn Wood, Bobby West (Frances).

Edna was raised on a farm in Morgan County Georgia. She was a graduate of Rutledge High School in Rutledge, GA being a part of the last graduating class of Rutledge High School. After high school, she attended Berry College being the first in her family to go to college graduating in 1952. She moved to Tennessee and served as Home Demonstration Agent for Meigs County. There, she married Garland and they started a family. She began teaching Home Economics at Meigs County High School in 1960 and served 25 years.

She was one of the oldest active members of the First Baptist Church of Decatur where she was a devoted member and worker while able to do so. She helped in VBS, and was a member of the Adah Eaves Sunday School Class and WMU for many years.

She loved sunflowers, hummingbirds, watching the Braves, reading, quilting, teaching Sunday School, 4-H, senior Olympics, traveling, sewing, baking, making jams, jellies, and fried pies, flowers, mission trips with Garland, and being with family and friends.

The family would like to give a special thanks to her many friends and church members for their continued love, support, cards, and visits throughout the years. The family would also like to thank her special caregivers for the wonderful care they provided: Sue Sutton, C.J. Smyly, Joyce Stewart, Pat Randolph, Michelle Lucas, Crystal Doria, Ivy Carpenter, and "Molly". We would also like to thank the staff at Bradley Medical Center for their excellent care.

The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, August 18, 2026 at Decatur First Baptist Church with a Funeral Service to follow at 1 p.m. with Pastor Jordan Metzger officiating. Interment will follow in the Decatur Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Keith Carpenter, Kevin May, Kevin Carpenter, Zac Brown, Bray Carpenter, and Jim Carpenter. Also, Marty Ward will serve as honorary pallbearer.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to First Baptist Church Decatur, TN mission or building funds or to the Meigs County Retired Teachers Scholarship fund, per Edna's request.

Decatur Funeral Home & Cremation Services is honored to serve the Carpenter family.