North Texas Habitat of Humanity reflects on the life and impact of President Jimmy Carter as he enters a hospice

DALLAS. Benita Luna lives on as a daily reminder of Jimmy Carter.

The 39th President met with her and helped build the home her family lives in during his 2014 visit to Dallas.

“Just to come home, to the house, it’s wonderful. It’s a wonderful feeling, said Luna. “He was so full of life, you know, at his age he was still working and he was so much fun to be around.”

Trinity Habitat CEO Gage Yager also met with Carter during the visit, which included 20 more homes in Fort Worth.

“In the 90s, still brandishing a hammer in favor of the habitat, right? It’s incredible,” Jaeger said. “I look at it and think, ‘OK, I want to be like this.’

Yager recalled that Carter was more focused on work than chatter, and that his wife Rosalynn and Secret Service officials were trying to slow down the former president in the 100-degree heat.

“They’re worried about him drinking water and you know he’s old school and must love old school, he drinks black coffee and that’s his water,” Yager said. “Then he is busy. He doesn’t sit and talk.”

On Saturday, the Carter family announced that the 98-year-old would be admitted to hospice care. He was battling cancer in 2015 when he was asked about his health.

“I’ve had a wonderful life,” Carter said. “I had thousands of friends and had a satisfying and pleasant existence.”

The former peanut farmer and naval engineer from Georgia served as president from 1977 to 1981 and then volunteered for Habitat for Humanity for decades.

“Me and all habitat affiliates across the country, we stand on the shoulders of a giant,” Yager said.

Carter even spoke to the WFAA during a trip to North Texas about where he wants his legacy to be.

“I think two words I would like to describe myself with is that I kept the peace and did everything I could to protect human rights,” he said.

A life of service would also be a fitting description.

“Going to help all these families so they can have their own home, it’s so great,” Luna said.

“We all want to live as full, active, fulfilling and meaningful lives as possible,” Yager said. “And when it’s time to go, let’s go.”