Mr. Bernard Carpenter

Ricky Bernard Carpenter, 56, passed away peacefully on Saturday June 6th, 2013, after a hard fought battle with cancer. He was at his home in Prairie, MS. Born February 23rd, 1957 in Monroe, NC to the late Rev. Bruce William Carpenter and Julia Ann Mullis Carpenter, he spent most of his childhood in Alabama until he left home to pursue his life of being a cowboy. Rick began with work on ranches in Georgia and Florida for Harry Wilfong and Foy Reynolds. At the age of 16, Mildred “Sister” Klingeman entered him in his first rodeo and he received his PRCA card and became one of the elite saddle bronc riding champions. He was the first saddle bronc rider east of the Mississippi River to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo. Highlights of his Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association career included 3 trips to the NFR in 1979, 1980, and 1982. Rick dominated the PRCA Southeastern Circuit from 1976-1982 in saddle bronc riding with 7 circuit championships. In 1995, he won the PRCA First Frontier circuit at age 38. During his life Rick was also a sought after farrier working at Louisiana Downs, Bossier City, La and Canterbury Park, Minnesota. His business, Rick Carpenter Saddlery, started 30 years ago and specialized in bronc saddles and stock saddles. Rick also spent several years as a PRCA judge and taught at many Lyle Sankey Rodeo Schools, mentoring many young bronc riders. Rick was a story teller and had great tales of his rodeo life and friends he met along the way. He loved horses and starting colts and was good at it. He had an exceptional way with a horse and that was his love. Rick was a member of Prairie United Methodist Church in Prairie, MS. A private service was held on Sunday, July 7. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN or God’s Cowboys, c/o Rome Wager, PO Box 915, Dulce, NM, 87528. Rick is preceded in death by his father, the late Reverend Bruce William Carpenter, he is survived by his wife Mary Jane Carpenter, of Prairie, MS; son Dusty R. Carpenter, of Chicago, IL; two step sons, Jake Orman and Cooper Orman, of Prairie, MS; mother Julia Ann Mullis Carpenter, of Grottoes, VA; and brother Mitchell Carpenter, of Grottoes, VA. Calvert Funeral Home of West Point is in charge of arrangements.