Mike Carpenter Mike was born February 3, 1950, in Long Beach, California, to Keith and Eleonore Carpenter, and passed away unexpectedly on September 24, 2005, in Rockport, Washington. Mike graduated from Atascadero High School in 1968 and joined the Marines the same year. He served in Viet Nam, stationed at Quang Tri in 1969 as an artilleryman in U Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Infantry out of Camp Pendleton, California. He had attended sniper school and Vietnamese language school. When he got out of the service, he attended Multnomah Christian College in Portland, Oregon and Arizona Bible College. Mike lived all over the U.S., but his favorite area was Washington State. One of his favorite hobbies included salmon fishing and was president of the Steel Headers Association for three years. He also loved baseball (Seattle Mariners) and was an avid reader. Mike had an incredible sense of humor and never was at a loss to come up with a joke or a humorous anecdote. He was a great storyteller and could recall even the smallest detail of past events. He had a wonderful singing voice and served in the choir as a vocalist and as choir director while living in the Northwest. Mike had a strong faith in God and commitment to his Lord Jesus Christ. Mike had numerous occupations. He started working while in high school as a waiter at the Paso Robles Inn where he once waited on Wayne Newton and Jerry Lewis, and received a $100 tip from Jerry. In 1978 he became a full-time recruiter for the California Army National Guard at Atascadero, California. He recruited for all units in the Central Coast Area. Some, but not all, of other occupations were welder, manufacturing supervisor, salesman, computer repair and machinist. Mike's favorite occupation was Deputy Sheriff in Asotin, Washington. He found that the most challenging and the most rewarding of his occupations. During his three years there, the deaths resulting from drunk and unsafe drivers were reduced dramatically and he was very proud of that fact. Ironically, Mike was killed by an unsafe driver that fell asleep at the wheel. Mike is survived by his wife, Pat Carpenter (nee Kind); children, Diana G. Hundrup and Christina M. Zepeda; three grandchildren, Jaiden D. Hundrup, Amondre M. and Matea E. Zepeda; brothers: Jahn, Kenneth, and Donald Carpenter; sister, Michelle Tenney; father Keith; and his first wife, Rita Martinez. He was preceded in death by his mother, Eleonore and a brother, Gary L. Carpenter. A Funeral service will held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, September 29, 2005, in the Chapel of Beck's Funeral Home, 405 - 5th Ave. S. in Edmonds, WA, (425) 771-1234; private cremation to follow. There will be a reception following at 3:00 p.m. at the Alderwood Manor Community Church, 3403 Alderwood Mall Blvd., in Lynnwood, Washington. Published in the Daily Herald on 9/28/2005.