Winnie Lee Carpenter

Beloved wife, mother, grandmother and aunt, Winnie Lee Carpenter, 92, passed away peacefully at Mantey Heights Rehabilitation & Care Center in Grand Junction, CO on November 14, 2024. She was preceded in death by her father Charles Glenn Brooke and mother Birdie Lee Locke, her brother David, her son Edison, her daughter Gwendolyn (Burton) and her husband Carlos, the love of her life and life companion of 74 years.

Winnie was born in Mesa, CO where she spent the majority of her earlier years with the exception of a brief stay in Springfield, OR. During this stay, her mother passed away when Winnie was 12 years old. 

Winnie married Carlos C. Carpenter in 1949 and began their ranching life in De Beque, CO. Winnie was busy raising their three daughters, raising a garden, canning, preparing meals for ranch hands, being a 4-H leader and helping Carlos run the ranch. She saved and nurtured countless orphaned baby lambs, calves and chicks around the kitchen stove. Winnie and Carlos attended and enjoyed the Roan Creek community dances, they were good dancers and had a lot of stories to tell. A big accomplishment of Winnie’s was the designing and decorating of their second home in De Beque.

They were blessed with their fourth child Edison, who was born in 1969. When Eddie was ready for school, Winnie transported him to Grand Junction so his special needs were met. During Eddie’s school day, Winnie worked as a housekeeper at a local hotel and a seamstress at Marmot and Wiggy’s. She and Carlos enjoyed taking Eddie on numerous road trips. After Eddie passed away in 1996, Winnie joined the De Beque Extension Club as well as a bowling league. She continued gardening, canning, yard work and being a wonderful grandmother. She enjoyed the “coffee get togethers” with Carlos and neighbors at the De Beque Community Center and taking gambling trips with DeeDee Wheeler.

Winnie was a strong woman in so many ways with high morals and work ethics that she passed on to her children. Some of her hobbies included using her talents to create projects, cooking, baking, sewing, reading, and puzzling. She was able to continue several of these during her stay at Mantey Heights where she made new friends, laughed a lot, played Bingo, and thoroughly enjoyed her time.

Winnie is survived by her daughters: Carla Rudnick (Jim) & Connie Black, grandchildren Jessicca Marks (Richard), Jesse Rudnick, Erik Gabbett, Jedidiah Gabbett, great granddaughters Sarah Marks & Mikaila Gabbett, niece & nephews.

The family would like to thank Hope West and Mantey Heights for their kindness, care and compassion for Winnie while she was with them. We appreciate all of their hard, genuine work in striving for Winnie’s safety and comfort.

A Celebration of Life will be held on January 4th at the DeBeque Community Center (385 Minter Ave.) De Beque. CO In lieu of flowers, contributions to Hope West would be appreciated.