James D. Carpenter

Constableville - James D. Carpenter, 81, a long-time resident of the B.J. Mackey Road, passed away on Friday, April 15, 2022, at Lewis County Health Care System, Lowville, while under the loving watch of his family. Affectionately known as Jim, he was born in Lowville, on August 22, 1940. A son of Duane F. and Eleanor Wilder Carpenter. He grew up on the Carpenter family farm on Mackey Road. Jim received his education in Constableville, graduation as Salutatorian, from Constableville Central School, with the Class of 1957. Soon after graduation, (1958), Jim was married to Connie Seymour. Together they grew their family with the addition of Penny Lou Carpenter, James Alan Carpenter, Tim (Esther) Carpenter, Thomas Merrill Carpenter, Shari Lee (James) Podolec, and Christopher Robin Carpenter. Connie and James later divorced. On August 27, 1983, James married to Diana Clemens. Together they had Duane Kenneth (Lauren) Carpenter and Orrin James (Anne) Carpenter. Diana and James also later divorced. Tragically, Jim saw the deaths of two of his children: his daughter, Penny, in 1959, and his son, Tom, last year in 2021. James also lived through the death of his older sister, Barbra Hayes, in 1997. Jim is survived by his other six children, 15 grandchildren and several great grandchildren, as well as his younger siblings Jean (Elwood) O'Dell of Bartow, FL, Fred (Sue) Carpenter of Camden, NY, and Caroline Brown of Bartow, FL. Jim is also survived by Yvonne Schmidtka of Constableville NY, his companion of seventeen years. Yvonne lovingly took care of Jim during the past two years as his health declined. James also possessed a strong work ethic; as a young man, from 1959-1964 he operated a milk transport route, picking up milk in cans from area dairy farms and transporting them to local milk plants. In 1964 he drove truck for Morgan Driveaway (1964-1970). In 1970 he transitioned out of the truck and into the dispatcher role managing shipping and routes for Matlack until 1978. During those eight years he worked for Al Relf (died 2019), with whom Jim remained a lifelong friend. However, the open road called to James more and more as the years passed. He enjoyed being on the open road and the feeling of freedom driving truck gave him. In 1978 he left Matlack, and the office environment, to get back in the cab as a transporter of mobile homes, working for Gerald Seward. With this position, James was able to travel to all 48 of the continental United States. He often recounted stories of traveling from New York to California, Florida to Corpus Christie, Texas. As he traveled the country, James was able to meet his father-in-law, Maynard Seymour (also a truck driver), on the road; sometimes for just a meal or a short convoy until their paths separated. James often recounted stories or sights he remembered from the road, such as the high winds of the Midwest blowing over his trailer or attempting to sleep in his truck as it was towed home by another driver. In 1983 James returned home and worked with Howard Trainor selling used cars in Boonville, NY. He only made it a year, however, before he returned to the truck cab, again working for Matlack, where he hauled much of the cement that was used to build Ft. Drum. Throughout all of his tractor trailer driving career however, Jim maintained his interest in the old family farm. In the early 1990's, Jim began driving a bus for the South Lewis School System and shortly after started dairy herd at his family homestead on the B.J. Mackey Road at the same time. After Jim retired from bus driving he was able to grow and relocate the farm to a larger facility on Rt. 12D, until his retirement in 2005. James joined the Masons in 1962 at the age of 22. He was a member of the New York State Old Tyme Fiddlers Association, Osceola and he was a member of MENSA. He valued these associations highly his whole life. Relatives and friends are invited to attend Visitation Hours from 11:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, April 23, 2022, at Trainor Funeral Home, Inc. 143 Schuyler St. Boonville, where a Memorial Service will begin at 1:00 P.M., to be followed immediately by a Masonic Service, all held at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to New York State Old Tyme Fiddlers Association, 1121 Comins Road, Redfield, NY 13437 or to Friends of Lewis County Hospice, P.O. Box 266, Lowville, NY 13367.