Grant Carpenter

Grant Stacy Carpenter, 83, of Lyndon Corner, Vermont, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved one on Thursday, April 24, 2025, in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. Born in Concord, Vermont, Grant was a life-long resident of the Northeast Kingdom. The only child of Francis “Bud” Carpenter and Charlotte Carpenter (née Farnsworth), he graduated Concord High School in 1960. He would go on to graduate from Lyndon State College in 1964. It was at Lyndon State where he would meet his loving wife of over 60 years, Elizabeth “Betsy” Carpenter (née Hoyt).

Never allowing himself to be defined by his occupation, Grant would hold varied jobs over the course of his life. After college, Grant would go on to teach school in Concord, Barnet, and Walden. After sixteen years as a teacher, he would work for stints as a real estate agent and broker, and as a “boxcar preparation technician” at the Ethan Allen Furniture plant in Orleans. He spent the last 20 of his working years as a custodian at Lyndon State, where he became great friends with many of the professors, and where he continued to take science courses for the pure love of learning.

Grant was in many ways a Renaissance man. He was extremely well-read on subjects as diverse as philosophy and quantum physics. He was a fan of the great New England transcendentalist, Ralph Waldo Emerson, in particular his essay “Self-Reliance,” from which he could quote extensively. In addition, Grant was a 33rd Degree Mason with the Moose River Lodge in Concord. Grant was a talented musician starting with his time as an organist at the Methodist Church in Concord during his youth. He played guitar, piano, and even a bit of saxophone and accordion. His musical tastes ran the gamut from Ernest Tubb to Richard Wagner. He was also a dangerously good poker player, who had no qualms about separating fools from their money.

Grant loved the outdoors and hiked extensively throughout Vermont and New Hampshire. He and his son Curtis became members of the AMC’s Four-Thousand-Footer Club, after having climbed to the peaks of all 48 of New Hampshire’s 4,000-foot mountains.

As all who knew him were aware, Grant was a great collector. His collections included antiques, stamps, books, records, and many other collectables. He owned perhaps the largest collections of View Masters and Whitman Big Little Books in northern New England. His home was adorned with antiques, many of which he restored himself, including 19th Century pump-organs, and a player-piano.

In addition to his wife, Betsy, Grant is survived by his daughter, Heather Heiser of Concord, and son Curtis Carpenter of Lyndonville. He leaves behind four grandchildren Geneva Berwick (née Heiser) of St. Johnsbury, Ashton Heiser of Concord, and twins Talan and Tanner Carpenter of Lyndonville. In addition, he is survived by three step-grandchildren Jonathan Heiser of Randolph, Vermont, and Laura and Marilyn Heiser of Lancaster, New Hampshire. Grant was predeceased by his daughter-in-law, Shelly Carpenter (née Hymanson).

Calling hours will be held at the Guibord-Pearsons Funeral Home at 15 Main Street in Lyndonville on Friday, May 9, 2025, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. A private burial ceremony will be held in Concord in June.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.CaledoniaLifeServices.com. Guibord-Pearsons & Sayles Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.