CLAREMONT NC - Betty E. (Betty Mama) Carpenter, 83, of Claremont, went home to be with her Lord Saturday, Sept. 28, 2013, at her residence. Born Dec. 26, 1929, in Lamar County, Ga., she was the daughter of the late Jasper "Jack" Dorton Engram and Lena Mae Morgan Engram. She was a member of St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Claremont, where she was a member of the Ladies Aid Group, now the Women of the ELCA and was one time voted "Mother of the Year." She worked with her husband, Jim, at Carpenter Realty and Auction Company. Betty's hobby was Japanese embroidery, but due to health problems, she no longer could complete this art. She was well-loved, a devoted wife and mother and will always be missed. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by brothers, E. Jerome Engram and Melvin Engram; sister, Ellen Engram; sister-in-law, Dottie Engram; brother-in-law, William "Bill" Lokey; and step-grandson, Scotty Yow. Left to cherish her memory is her husband of 65 years, James E. "Jim" Carpenter of the home; one daughter, Cynthia Diane Dison and husband, Andy, of Catawba; three sons, Timothy Edward Carpenter and wife, Judy, of Claremont, James Donald Carpenter and wife, Ann, of Claremont and Mark David Carpenter and wife, Alisa, of Claremont; sister, Cornelia E. Lokey of Statesville; sisters-in-law, Nettie Engram of Statesville, Betty Ann Engram of Greenville, S.C. and Shirley Fisher and husband, Clyde, of Claremont; eight grandchildren, Christopher Smith and wife, Sara, Tiffany Carpenter, Ashley Carpenter and wife, Christina, Micah Dison and wife, Jamie, Jason Carpenter and wife, Mandy, Aaron Carpenter and wife, Jennifer, David Carpenter and Katie Carpenter; two stepgrandchildren, Gidget Wray and husband, Kenny and Nichole Dison; 11 great-grandchildren; 11 step great-grandchildren; and lots of nieces, nephews and cousins. A Service of Remembrance will be held Thursday, Oct. 3, at 2 p.m., at St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church, with the Revs. Dr. Gary Haddock and Paul Christ officiating. Burial will follow, in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Wednesday, Oct. 2, from 6 to 8 p.m., at St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church. Serving as pallbearers will be her grandsons, Christopher Smith, Ashley Carpenter, Micah Dison, Jason Carpenter, Aaron Carpenter and David Carpenter. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 550, Claremont, NC 28610 or Catawba Regional Hospice, 3975 Robinson Rd., Newton, NC 28658.