Anna May “Anne” Baxter, age 93, of North Platte, Nebraska departed this life on October 20, 2020, at Linden Court in North Platte.
Anne was born on February 9, 1927 to John and Bertha Schumacher Stewart at Edgar, NE. She grew up in Edgar, where her father was a dentist, then a pharmacist. After losing her father to leukemia when she was 11 years old, she and her brothers helped their mother in the Rexall Drug Store that her family owned. She always spoke fondly of her upbringing with her three older brothers in Edgar, which was a thriving small town with an outstanding business community, fed in part by the presence of both the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Railroads.
Starting in the eighth grade, Anne played organ for six years for the Presbyterian Church in Edgar, where she also sang in the choir. After graduating as valedictorian from Edgar High School, Anne attended Doane College in Crete, NE, where she played in the drum corps. She taught school for one year in Superior, NE and then headed to University of Nebraska in Lincoln, where she studied Home Economics at the Ag College on East Campus. She met her future husband, Neal Baxter, at a church event near the UNL campus and they became better acquainted when they both sang in the 2nd Presbyterian Church choir.
On June 11, 1950 Anne and Neal were married in Edgar and spent their first year of married life in Lexington, NE, where Neal was Assistant Dawson County Extension Agent and Anne taught fourth grade at Bryan Elementary School. They then moved to North Platte for Neal to become the Lincoln County Extension Agent and to begin raising their family. They made their permanent home in North Platte, other than in 1966, when they moved their family to Madison, WI for Neal to earn his master’s degree. That year, Anne became involved in a research project that involved teaching “New Math” to 6th graders.
While in North Platte, Anne and Neal were very active in their First Presbyterian Church, where they both sang in the choir and served as state skippers for Mariners and as sponsors for senior high youth fellowship. Anne was active in Extension Club, Home Ec Club, and PEO and made many close friendships through her involvement in those organizations. In 1975, Anne briefly returned to Lincoln to complete her degree, after which she was a substitute teacher, covering K thru High School in every school in town.
Anne was a devoted and loving wife, mother, and grandmother, while also finding time to give back to her church and community. She helped organize the North Platte Genealogical Society and served as its first president. She also chaired the Playground Committee for the Storyland Zoo, a Rotary project. She and her husband Neal enjoyed many memorable trips together, many of which were to foreign countries. Anne will always be remembered as a loving and loyal friend to many, looking for the positive in any situation, and looking to share her gift of humor with others whenever given the opportunity.
Anne is survived by her four sons, Stewart (Lisa) of North Platte, Kim (Nancy) of North Platte, Brian of North Platte, and Paul of North Platte; grandson Logan (Alison) Baxter and granddaughter Haley Baxter of Kearney; granddaughter Mikaela (David) Meagher of Lincoln; granddaughter Elizabeth (Monte) Williams of Charlotte, NC and grandson Brandon Baxter of Hastings; great-granddaughter Eloise Marie Meagher; two nephews and three nieces.
She was preceded in death by her husband Neal, her parents, her brothers William (Grechen) Stewart, Paul (Molly) Stewart and Frank (Suzy) Stewart; and her grandson Craig Baxter.
Graveside services for family and burial will be at 10:00 AM on Friday, October 23, 2020 at Fort McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell, Nebraska. Visitation will be on Thursday, October 22, 2020, noon to 8:00 PM at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home at 421 West 4th Street. Memorials are suggested to North Platte Rotary Club and First Presbyterian Church.