Marilyn D. Carpenter

Marilyn D. Carpenter, 59, of Hamburg, died Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014. Mrs. Carpenter was a native of Crossett and a resident of Hamburg and the Prairie Grove community, north of Hamburg, for most of her life. She graduated from Hamburg High School with Honors in 1972. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary and Secondary Education and a Master's Degree in Educational Administration in 1987. She was certified to teach Kindergarten through 12th grade across many subject areas and enjoyed it as much as anything else in her career. She obtained a Superintendant's certificate in 1990 and served in the roles of elementary and secondary principal, curriculum coordinator, and assistant superintendent for several school districts in Arkansas. She received a Doctorate of Educational Administration from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1993. Dr. Marilyn Carpenter was certified in many educational leadership styles and numerous instructional methods. She was also a successful author and published A Feather for My Wing; a personal narrative detailing the account of recovering from a stroke, reconnecting with life and becoming a master quilt maker. In 2004 she started her own company, Quest Education and began developing her own instructional methods. These were innovative teaching strategies and leadership concepts that were adopted by hundreds of schools around the nation and utilized by thousands of teachers and administrators. Dr. Carpenter also co-developed social and emotional learning programs in collaboration with Yale University and edited instructional textbooks with some of the nation's foremost educational researchers. Her extraordinary life and career was a reflection of her ultimate purpose; helping others realize the vitality in themselves. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Monticello. She is preceded in death by her father, Jack Doss in 1993; and a sister, Glenda Doss Evans in 2009. She is survived by her husband of 42 years, David Carpenter of Hamburg; a son, William Marcus Carpenter and his fiancé, Candace Bailes and her son Logan, all of Maumelle; her mother and step-father, Clotine LaGrone Keen & William H. Keen; a brother, Gerald Doss all of Crossett; a sister, Vickie Keen Farler of Mabelvale; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services are 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014 at the First Baptist Church of Monticello. Burial will be in the Hamburg Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Monticello, 413 N. Main, Monticello, Ark. 71655. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Jones-Hartshorn Funeral Home of Hamburg. Online guest book at www.jones-hartshorn.com.