The Newbern area native, who served as Paris district superintendent for the United Methodist Church when he died, was Dyersburg district chief from 2003 to 2006. He was 60.

Carroll County Sheriff's Department deputies and rescue squads from several jurisdictions exit the private lake near the Leach community south of Huntington on Saturday after the body of Newbern native and Methodist minister Mickey Carpenter was recovered.

Carroll County Sheriff Bendell Bartholomew said the 25-acre lake was lowered eight feet to help the search. Carpenter's body was found wedged beneath a tree, said Bartholomew.

"That why the side-scan radar couldn't find him," he said. "It was looking at the tree, but it was blocking us finding him."

Six pumps worked day and night since Thursday to lower the water level from its 18-foot depth, said Bartholomew.

Trees had been placed throughout the privately-owned lake, which was a popular fishing spot near the Leach community about 12 miles south of Huntington.

Rescue squads and searchers ranging from Hardeman County on the Mississippi line to Obion County assisted in the recovery.

Bartholomew complimented the volunteers in the search.

"They spent day after day out here, and wouldn't stop until we found him," said Bartholomew.

As Dyersburg superintendent, Carpenter oversaw volunteer efforts to recover from the April 2006 tornado that killed 16 people and destroyed Bryant's Chapel United Methodist Church (now Christ United Methodist Church).

Carpenter had pastored at several churches in Northwest Tennessee and Western Kentucky during his ministerial career. He and his wife of 33 years, Marsha Dorgan, have twin girls.

Carpenter, who lived in Paris, was reported missing about 3 p.m. April 18. His pickup truck was seen been parked at the lake earlier that morning, where he was fishing.

A new release from the United Methodist Church Memphis Conference said Carpenter's wife, Marsha Dorgan, "though grieving and greatly missing her husband and the father of her children, has expressed great thankfulness to everyone who has been gracious and showed such love and concern for her and her family."

Bishop Dick Wills, in statements to the media, said that though the death of Carpenter is a great tragedy, some good may yet come of it through memorials in his name to the Dream Farm Project at Africa University. The Dream Farm, a project originated by Dorgan, an agriculturalist, will serve as a model of sustainable agriculture for the impoverished small holder farmers of Zimbabwe. At the Farm, they will learn methods they can easily use and replicate.

Many of Marsha's friends in Zimbabwe have called her home in Paris, Tenn. to express their grief for her husband's death and to pray with her.

"Mickey was first and foremost a loving husband, father and grandfather," said Wills. "He loved the pastors with whom he worked. He was one of the most conscientious superintendents every to occupy that office.

"Mickey was fishing the day he died to catch fish for a fish fry for the cabinet in May," Wills said. "I'll never forget the twinkle in his eye when he would tell us he was going to do 'lake ministry.'"

Memorials to the Africa University Dream Farm may be sent to: James Finger, Memphis Conference Treasurer, 24 Corporate Blvd., Jackson, TN 38305-2315.

Funeral arrangements are pending.