John Carpenter  (1940-2012)                                                            

Mr. John Maxson Carpenter, Jr., age 72, of Pentwater, and formerly of Kalamazoo, passed away Thursday, August 9, 2012. He was born April 30, 1940, in Kalamazoo to John and Pauline (Burnham) Carpenter, Sr. A 1957 graduate of Comstock High School, he earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Western Michigan University, then his Master’s Degree from Michigan State University in 1970. John married Mary Johnston in March 1975 in East Lansing. He owned Maxson Marketing and was a designer of apparel for thirty-five years. He served in the military and was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church in Pentwater.John was an avid golfer, and enjoyed singing in Barbershop Quartets and in the church choir in Florida. His special interests included feeding the poor and food banks and horses; he was also an artisan painter. John and his wife Mary owned the Gift Tree Shop in Pentwater and were fulltime residents of Pentwater since 1987. He also enjoyed traveling and boating, especially the cruise of Lake Michigan to the North Channel in Ontario to camp with their boat.John is survived by his wife, Mary Carpenter; his son, Charles Aaron Maxson (Kristina) Carpenter of Kentwood; one granddaughter, Abigail Marie Carpenter; one sister, Patricia Ann (Bill) Brooks of Hart; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.The funeral service for Mr. Carpenter will be held Wednesday, August 15, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. at Centenary United Methodist Church in Pentwater with Rev. Gary Bekofske officiating. Interment will be in the Pentwater Township Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. in the Wesley Room of the Centenary United Methodist Church. The family requests that any memorials be directed to American Cancer Society, Feed the Children Fund or to the charity of your choice.