Naomi "Jewell" Nichols Carpenter, 89, of Spencer, WV passed from this life into her eternal home in heaven on Saturday, June 10 at the Hospice House of CAMC Memorial Hospital in Charleston.  Born on December 4, 1933, Jewell was one of eleven children born to the late J .Charley and Arthelia Nichols of Otto.  She graduated from Spencer High School in 1951 and then married the love of her life and husband of 56 years, Jetty Carpenter in 1952. Jetty and Jewell moved to Hartville, Ohio and started a family, moving back to Spencer in the 1960s as owners and operators of Carpenter's General Store on Arnoldsburg Road. After selling the store, Jewell became a homemaker and raised two more children.  She and Jetty were well-known as they worked together in area churches where Jetty ministered.  Jewell led youth rallies, camps, vacation bible schools, and women's meetings for local churches, including many in the Harmony Baptist Association and Good Hope Association. She also had a beautiful voice and loved to sing in church.  After raising her children, she became a Certified Nursing Assistant and word clerk at Roane General Hospital until her retirement. A few years after Jetty's death in 2010 she married John Kelly of Looneyville.  She loved going to church with John and his family at Hurricane Baptist Church, where she made many friends. Jewell spent the last four years of her life living with her daughter and son-in-law in Spencer, where she spent much of her time reading, working crossword puzzles, and playing with her three great-granddaughters who visited often. She was a devout Christian and was an active member of the Boggs Fork Community Church in Spencer. She leaves an unmatched legacy of love and Christ-like devotion to her family, whom she prayed for daily. She said many times that all she wanted was to see her children and grandchildren happy, healthy, and following Christ.
In addition to her husband, Jetty, Jewell was preceded in death by her son Ronald E. Carpenter and her second husband John Kelly, along with two sisters, Francis Nichols Jenkins and Louella Nichols Ridenour, and six brothers, Bernard "Jack", Leroy, Kenneth, Howard, Boyd, and Rueben Nichols.
She is survived by a daughter, Stephanie (Steve) Carpenter-Bolte, two sons, Steve (Janifer) Carpenter, and Josh (Misti) Carpenter of Spencer, a daughter-in-law, Caroline Sartin-Carpenter of Newport TN, Five grandsons, Adam (Melissa) Carpenter of Charlotte, NC and their son, Jetty. Solomon Carpenter of Spencer,  Jacob Carpenter of Knoxville, TN, Kyle (Taylor) Crihfield of Ravenna, OH, and Alec (Sierra) Crihfield of Spencer and their daughters, Penelope, Arabella, and Elianna, two granddaughters, Ally Rey Carpenter and Naomi Jo Carpenter of Maryville, TN, a step-son Mike Kelly (Debbie) and their family, four step-grandchildren, Charlie (Erin) Bolte, Joe Bolte, Beth Ann (Chris) Mason and their daughters, Phoebe and Athena, and Lewis (Elisabeth) Bolte, as well as two brothers, Don (Berdeal) Nichols of Hartville, OH and Gary (Barbara) Nichols of Spencer, along with many special nieces, nephews, friends, and church family.
Services will be held at the Boggs Fork Community Church on Wednesday, June 14 at 2:00 pm. with her Pastor Russel Stump officiating. Per her request, the body will be cremated and placed beside her husband and son in the family cemetery on Boggs Fork in Spencer, with graveside services following at a later date. Taylor-Vandal Funeral Home in Spencer is in charge of arrangements.