James Carpenter

James ‘Jim’ Francis Carpenter (1949 - 2024)

Eugene, OR

James ‘Jim’ Francis Carpenter, 75, passed away of cancer at home on July 24, 2024.

Jim was born to Helen and Francis Carpenter on February 15, 1949, his mother called him her Valentine’s present.

He was born and raised in Hampton, Iowa, where he attended school and was a proud Eagle Scout for many years. He shared so many memories of his time in Iowa as a young adult, from cooking food in a deli, and ‘pizza slinging’, to helping veterans in physical therapy and rehabilitation while working at the VA hospital. He attended the University of Iowa toward a degree in fine art, where he relished studio time and even working night shifts in the University’s morgue because at the time, the anatomy course was not open to art students.

In 1986, Jim moved to Eugene, Oregon where he lived the rest of his adult life.

He was not just an artist and illustrator, but a craftsman of many talents, “a one man imaginarium”. He taught himself to play fiddle and mandolin, and playing traditional Irish music with friends and family was one of his favorite things to do. His creativity and skill were clear in everything he did, from fine woodworking and sculpting creatures and mechanical toys, making beautiful instruments and repairing broken ones, illustrating the Complete Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics and The Water of Life books, illustrating for magazines and other publications, to sculpting and carving two large installations for the Eugene Public Library; the life-sized Eugene Skinner out front, and ‘Leif’s Dream’ by the children’s section. He was also passionate about cooking and sharing food with everyone; planning and cooking the meals for holidays (especially Thanksgiving and Christmas) was a savored event, and always included his homemade bread.

He is remembered by friends and family for his kindness, generosity, intelligence, and humor.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Helen and Francis Carpenter of Hampton, IA, and is survived by his three children, Ian Carpenter of Reno, NV, Livia and Leif Carpenter of Eugene OR, his grandson Finn Carpenter of Reno, NV, his wife, Lorna Vinson of Eugene, OR, his sister, Crystal Ochoa Of Hampton, IA, and his brother Richard Carpenter of Athens, Greece.

Jim requested not to have a service. He was always considerate of others and did his best to live by the golden rule, “treat others as you wish to be treated”.