Randall Earl “Randy” Carpenter, 45, of Coos Bay, died Nov. 25, 2002, as a result of a firefighting accident in the line of duty.
His memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Baker High School gymnasium, 2500 E St. Pastors Chris Carpenter and Lennie Spooner will officiate. Cremation rites were conducted at Ocean View Memory Gardens Crematory at Coos Bay. Inurnment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Randy was born Dec. 9, 1956, at Baker City to G. Wayne and Drucilla M. Stiff Carpenter. He grew up in Baker City, graduating in 1975 from Baker High School.
He attended Portland State and Portland Community College. In December 1978, he married Mary Mamrose and they had two wonderful daughters.
He started his dental lab business in 1979, while holding several other jobs at the time. He started his firefighting career as a volunteer in 1979. During this time he was very active in the Oregon Volunteer Firefighter Association serving in all state offices, including president.
Randy became a full-time fireman shortly afterward in Baker City. In February 1989, he moved to Coos Bay to accept a position with the Coos Bay Fire Department. Randy was the consummate professional.
He was highly qualified in all operational and procedural aspects of his job. He was part of the original efforts to bring a hazardous materials unit to Coos Bay and was a specialist in HAZMAT.
He was qualified and certified to teach all subjects, and regularly taught courses in CPR and EMT Basic at the local college. He took great pride in this job and enjoyed the trust and respect of all his firefighter brethren.
He was an active member of the International Association of Firefighters, IAFF Local 2935, and the Regional Hazardous Materials Team. He also was skilled in construction and built a successful contracting business with his good friend, Jim Bush.
Randy especially loved spending time in Eastern Oregon, hunting as well as working with friends on the Bunch Ranch at Durkee, filling in whenever and doing whatever was needed. He had a wonderful sense of humor and often enjoyed a practical joke. His honesty and integrity were unquestionable.
He will be missed beyond description.
Survivors include his daughters, Sarah Carpenter and Stephanie Carpenter, both of Portland; parents, Wayne and Dru Carpenter of Baker City; brothers and their wives, Kerry and Cindy Carpenter of Baker City, Brad and Michelle Carpenter of Oregon City, and Jeff and Shelley Carpenter of Fruitland, Idaho; his companion, Christine Farmer-Benson of Coos Bay; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces, as well as countless friends who were like family to him.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Randy Carpenter Memorial Firefighter Training Fund through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814. It is suggested that those planning to attend the reception at the First Church of The Nazarene, 1250 Hughes Lane, after the service, bring either a salad or a dessert in a disposable container.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, December 6, 2002
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor