Lavenia was born June 26, 1930 in Slaton, Texas to Grady and John Lee Wilson. After graduating from Slaton High School, she attended McMurry University and Texas Tech University, graduating with a Bachelors degree in Education and a Masters in Home Economics. She married Harold Carpenter on August 5, 1954 in Slaton, Texas. Lavenia taught school in the Spur and Cooper School Districts, teaching elementary as well as high school home economics. In addition to being a teacher, she was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother as well as a faithful member of Cooper United Methodist Church for over 50 years. Lavenia was preceded in death by a son Chris, her parents, and her husband. She is survived by son Clint Carpenter and wife Penny of Slaton, daughter Kimberly Bryant and husband Chuck of Lubbock, grandchildren Christopher Carpenter and wife Julianna, Rachel Bryant, Olivia Bryant, Calvin Carpenter and great grandson William Carpenter. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cooper United Methodist Church or the Harold Carpenter Memorial Scholarship Fund at Lubbock Cooper ISD, Attn: Betsy Taylor, CFO.