Wilma Lee Baxter
April 13, 1927 – May 25, 2015
Wilma Lee Baxter, the youngest and eighth child of Noah William and Clara Josephine (Miller) Jackson, was born April 13, 1927 in Schuyler County, Missouri and passed away on May 25, 2015 at the Scotland County Hospital in Memphis, Missouri.

On April 14, 1946, she was united in marriage to Russell Leo Baxter. Surviving are their children, Jaye Baxter and wife, Kathy of Greentop, Missouri and Janice McDonald and husband, Don of Liberty, Missouri; 2 grandchildren, Jodee Bailey and husband, David of Bolivar, Missouri and David McDonald of Topeka, Kansas; 1 step-grandson, Anthony Gale and wife, Wendy of Lubbock, Texas; 2 great grandchildren, Ethan and Faith Bailey; 4 step-great grandchildren, Katie, Emma, Grace and Seth Gale; one sister, Mary Louise Baxter of Memphis, Missouri and her children, Jim Baxter and wife, Rose of Downing, Missouri and Mrs. Lecen (Donna) Byrn of Greentop, Missouri, many other dear nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband in 2001; brothers, Leland & wife, Faye, Bernie and wife, Loubell and Lloyd and wife, Doris; sisters, Lelia Pearl, Martha and husband, Wesley McConnell and Bina Lou and husband, Junior Childress and one brother-in-law, Willard Baxter.

Wilma graduated from the Downing High School in Downing, Missouri in 1945 and was awarded a Bible for displaying the most consistent Christian character. During her high school years, she received and forever cherished the many letters received as a result of her long distance courtship with Russell, who was serving oversees in World War II. After graduating, she was employed as a bookkeeper by the MFA of Downing, Missouri until the time of their marriage in April 1946.

Wilma and Russell spent 55 years together. They lived a short time in Detroit, Michigan and Kalona, Iowa, but spent over 50 of those years on farms in northeast Missouri. In l957, they settled on the farm where she lived until moving to the Scotland County Care Center in 2012. She always enjoyed little children, especially her great grandchildren, as well as cooking for and sharing her garden bounty with family, friends and neighbors.

From her youth and until the church closed in l998, she was an active member of the Coffey Christian Church. Thereafter, she attended the Downing Christian Church. Wilma and Russell were also treasurers of the Webster Cemetery Association for many years. She was a former member of the Happy Red Hatters of Downing, Missouri as well as an enthusiastic participant in the Relay for Life as she twice survived cancer once in 1976 and again in 2012. Her family will miss her sweet presence in their lives.
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Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 28, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at the Downing Christian Church in Downing, Missouri with Larry Smith, Pastor of the Downing Christian Church officiating. Music will be provided by organist, Duane Goff and singers, David and Ethan Bailey performing special selections of "In The Garden" and "I Will Rise". A congregational song will also be performed, "Take The Name Of Jesus With You". Pallbearers will be Tom Baxter, Danny Humphrey, Mark Starbuck, Gary Mulvaney, Doug Byrn and Gary Ross. Honorary pallbearers will be Jim Baxter, Edwin Jackson, Jack Childress, Bob Jackson, Bill Jackson and John Jackson. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral services from 10:00 until 11:00 a.m. at the Downing Christian Church. Memorials have been established for the Coffey Cemetery. Online condolences may be expressed to the family by logging on to normanfh.com. Burial will be in the Coffey Cemetery south of Downing, Missouri. Arrangements are under the direction of the Norman Funeral Home of Lancaster, Missouri.