KATHLEEN ADAIR CARPENTER Kathleen Adair Carpenter, a member of the Hoopa Valley Tribe, was born December 23, 1943 in Hoopa, CA the fourth of nine children born to Ward Tinker Melendy and Norene Marshall Latham. Kate passed unexpectedly at her home in Hoopa with her granddaughter Natalie and brother Jamie by her side at the age of 74, December 10, 2018. Kate attended College Elementary in Arcata, Lincoln and Hoopa Elementary schools and Gold Beach High.
She married the love of her life Chancey Edward Carpenter II in 1966. Together they had a blended family with eleven children. She did custodial work and cleaned houses for many years, but her most treasured role was as a loving caregiver to her children and grandchildren, who named her “Meme” from a lullaby song she sang.
Among her large extended family, many also found a home with her when in need. Her home with Ed was the gathering place where they loved to cook and share food from their garden. She loved every child in the family the same, no favorites, and was known as “Auntie Cake”.
Along with her sweetness, she also had a stubborn streak, which served her well in surviving the loss of four children and two brothers. A descendent of Me’dildin and Tsewenaldin villages, she was the granddaughter of Edward Marshall and Matilda Hoffman, great-granddaughter of Laura Davis, and great-great granddaughter of Mary Jim. Kate was preceded in death by her father Ward Tinker Melendy, mother Norene Marshall Latham; sisters Sandra Kyle, Lizabeth Latham, and Brenda Latham Tamerius; brothers Tim Melendy, Rob Roy Latham Sr. and Lester “Fidigoss” Latham Jr.; daughters Timisha, Shelly, and Chelsea Matilda Carpenter; son Joel Carpenter; niece Traci Melendy O’Rourke; nephew Jeff Melendy; granddaughter Wendy Kanui; great-niece Lacey Jackson.
She is survived by Aunt Mary Dawn Melendy Cunningham; daughter Brenda; sons Chance Carpenter III (Supaha), Robin and Devery Freeman; stepdaughters Donna Opdenacker (Bill), Susan Carpenter, and Colleen Llywelyn; sisters Mary Britton (Roger), Deirdre Young, Rochelle Encinas, Wanda Benedict, Deb Dillion (Will), Faith and Joy Melendy, Laura Latham; brothers Mike (Darline), Patrick (Andrea), Jamie (Jackie), and Jon Melendy (Ann), and Kevin Latham (Sugar); grandchildren Kayla Begay (Carl), Natalie Scott (Lewis), Chance IV, Winnie, Edward, Shell and Ronin “Sonny” Carpenter, Lisa Reed and Misha Freeman, Edwin Freeman, Grant, Micah, and Kinsinto’ McCovey, Elizabeth Sheridan (Colin), Matt Bramow (Karabel), Eric and Heather Amos; great-grandchildren Maddy and Lydia Sheridan, Carter and Bailee Bramow; nieces and nephews Tim, Angie, Rob Roy Jr., Michele, Aimee, Jim-Bob, T.R., Marshall, Billy, Chris, Cher, Masi, Kimimula, Kevin, Josh, Megan, Chwa’kin, Warren, Rhonda, Mary, Yolanda, Jimmers, Gary, Bradley and Patrick; and many great-nephews and nieces. Services will be held on Saturday, December 15, 2018 at 11am at Paul’s Chapel in Arcata, CA, with a reception to follow at 1pm at the Blue Lake Casino Hotel. To share memories or express condolences, please sign guest book.
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