Lois Baxter

Lois L. Baxter, 88, passed away Saturday October 10, 2009 at Rose Lane Health Center after an extended illness. Born March 6, 1921 to Lulu B. (Poling) and Burton B. Rexroad in Lewis County, WV, she moved to Massillon in 1951 and has resided in Jackson Twp. the past 55 years. A graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buchannon, WV she began her 33 year teaching career in West Virginia. She taught here 27 years at Jackson High School retiring in 1978. During those years she taught physical education and math, served as cheerleading advisor, chairman of the math department, and was on the J.M.E.A. negotiating committee and board of directors. For most of 30 years she oversaw the graduation ceremonies and was involved in starting the first girl’s basketball team in 1972. As a Jennings Scholar she appeared in the 1970 edition of Leaders in Secondary Education of America and in 2004 was inducted into the Jackson High School Wall of Fame. The honor that meant the most was the student nickname “Mom” because of her close relationship with her students which has led to many lifetime friendships. A longtime member of the First Christian Church of Massillon, she taught Sunday school, served as the first woman elder and was a past church board chairman. In retirement besides being active in her church and enjoying her family, she loved traveling the Western United States and its national parks, Canadian fishing with family and friends, visiting Hawaii several times, and being a “beach bum” on Sanibel Island, FL. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert F. Baxter and her sister Virginia Bond. She is survived by her daughter Patricia Baxter and her son Robert Michael (Suzanne) Baxter both of Jackson Twp.; two grandson’s Colin C. O’Brien of Washington, D.C. and Corey (Lyndsi) O’Brien of Columbus, OH; three great-grandchildren whom she adored, Mary Robbins, Elise and Corinne O’Brien all of Columbus; dear friend Mary McCoy of Jackson Twp. Visitation will be Wednesday October 14, 2009 from 6-8 P.M. at Arnold-Lynch Funeral Home 1100 Wales Rd. NE. Funeral services will be Thursday at 11:00 A.M. at the First Christian Church of Massillon with Rev Tim Brown officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Hills Burial Park. Memorial contributions in Lois’s memory may be given to the First Christian Church of Massillon or VNS Hospice. Messages of comfort and support may be sent to www.arnoldlynch.com.