A Sad Loss

My mother passed away last week. She was a great lady in many ways. She will be sorely missed by me and many others. Following is her obituary:

   Nina Alice Baxter passed away suddenly on November 14, 2012. Her health declined during the last few years necessitating the sale of her home in South Everett which was difficult for her. She hated giving up her independence and opportunity to take care of others. Since that time she lived in Garden Court Retirement Center, Sunrise View Retirement Villa and recently had moved to Home Care Adult Family Home all in South Everett. The family wishes to extend thanks to staff and new friends who provided Nina with support at those facilities.

    Nina was born to Charles Ernest and Rachael Birch in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 2, 1920. She experienced the Depression with her family. Her father lost his job and the family became farmers. Nina was always proud of being the “hired hand” as she drove a team of horses for cultivating and raking.

   She married Louis Baxter, her husband of 64 years on September 8, 1942. He passed away April 24, 2006. Nina was a wife, mother, housewife and partner with Louis as they ran Woods Creek Poultry Farm near Sultan. In her later life she secured a nursing degree and worked as a RN at Providence Hospital and Bethany Nursing until her retirement in 1985.

   Nina was artistic and especially enjoyed working with stained glass and was an expert at knitting. She provided stained glass lamps and other items along with sweaters and afghans for family members. Nina was also talented musically and served as organist/pianist for the Sultan Community United Methodist Church for a number of years.

She and Louis were always a generous, giving couple. They opened their home to 21 different foster children and provided a nurturing, supportive environment when it was needed. Along with Louis, Nina volunteered at World Concern for twelve years. They were likewise generous financially making regular donations to World Concerns, World Vision, their church and many other worthy causes. In addition many neighbors, friends and family received care, support, gifts and wonderful meals prepared by Nina.

After their retirement, Nina and Louis joined Mobile Missionaries Assistance Program. For six years they traveled in their RV and worked as volunteers in Mexico at orphanages, with the Papago Indians in AZ and many other locations throughout the U.S. and Canada. They also took time out to climb Mt. Olympus one summer. Their travels included the British Isles, Hawaii and Wisconsin, their home state.

Nina was preceded in death by Louis her husband, her sister Lucille Jones and her brother Bobby who passed away at age 5.

She is survived by her daughter Mary Baxter of Kent, her sons Stan (Kathe) of Redwood City, CA and James (Gail) of Everett, granddaughter Michelle, grandson Tracy  both of Portland, Todd Baxter (Joy) of Sammamish  and Tim Baxter of Denver, CO, Great Granddaughters Kate and Jill Baxter of Samammish.

She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Cremation is by Purdy and Kerr in Monroe.

A graveside gathering will be held at the Sultan Cemetery on December 1, 2012 at 11:00AM followed by a reception at 11:30 at the Sultan Community United Methodist Church at 212 Birch Street.