Obituary of Barbara Louise Baxter
It is with greatest sorrow that we announce the loss of our dear Mother Barbara Louise (Wilson) Baxter, age 91, who passed away at the Heart of the Valley Nursing Care Home on Tuesday, September 17th with her children at her side. She was born in Clarence, NS, to loving parents, Clyde and Muriel (Barteaux) Wilson on May 18, 1933.
Barbara graduated from Acadia University in 1954 with her Bachelor of Secretarial Science and Arts degree. While at Acadia, Barbara demonstrated great academic and athletic prowess, lettering as the goalie for the Women's Varsity Hockey team while also winning numerous awards for her academic achievements, including receiving a Literary A and a Distinction Blazer. Upon graduation, she worked as a civilian on Greenwood Air Force Base as a cryptographer behind the highly secured "Green-door." She later moved to Toronto where she worked as Office Manager at Picket Construction Company. It was in Toronto that she met and married Bill Baxter in 1958. From Toronto, Barb and Bill spent a decade following Bill's career through northern Canada, including posts in Kuujjuarapik and lnukjuak, formerly Great Whale River and Port Harrison, QC. After their adventures in the Canadian Arctic, the Baxters settled in Herring Cove, Halifax County, NS, where Barbara went on to receive her Bachelor of Education from Mount St. Vincent University in 1971 (Dean's List). Before retirement, Barb worked at the Spryfield Animal Hospital as a Veterinary Assistant, demonstrating her lifelong love and care for cats and dogs. Barb had a special affection for West Highland Terriers, her last Westie being her beloved Lauchie.
Barb was a devote Christian, a deacon of the Middleton Baptist Church, and past president of the Muriel Bent Atlantic Baptist Women's Group, where she made life-long friends. Always the social butterfly, Barb enjoyed spending time with her friends and family; she will be remembered fondly for her dry wit and zest for life. A voracious reader of books and newspapers, and an avid viewer of the daily news, Barb loved to be up-to-date on everything.
She spent her retirement living out her passion for travel. In 1979, she and Bill drove an RV across North America. She made her first leap across the Atlantic Ocean for a tour of the British Isles and Continental Europe. A special memory was her safari through Africa where she sat on an ostrich's back and looked an elephant in the eye. Of all her many wondrous world travels, her favourite sight was the Eiffel Tower in Paris, which she was fortunate to visit on many occasions.
Barbara loved her children Lorie (Baxter) Wheeler, NS, and Blaise (wife Leslie), Chattanooga, Tennessee. She loved visiting her Tennessee family. She was a wonderful and loving Nana to Lorie's son Sean and to Blaise's three daughters, Jenny (Ben Hazlewood), Allyson (Tom Porta) and Robyn (Tripp Harris); her great grandchildren include Hudson and Sawyer Hazlewood, Wilson 'Bird' and Louisa Porta and Blaise and Ezra Harris. Through her flair for life, Barbara has instilled in her family a sense of self-assurance, fellowship, wonderment, humour, adventure, and style. She continues to serve as an inspiration to her family and is greatly loved and admired by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren alike.
Barbara was predeceased by her husband Bill, brother Willis Wilson, and sister-in-law Donnie Wilson. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and her loving sister Emma Brown (Bill) Brockville, ON.
Sincere thanks to Barb's friends and her extended family for the many kindnesses shown during these last few months. There are so many other people to thank, so if you are one of them, know that what you did for her and her family is greatly appreciated. We'd also like to thank Dr. Michelle Saxon and the wonderful staff at Heart of the Valley and Grand View Manner.
Funeral Service will be held Monday, October 14th at 1:00pm in the Clarence United Baptist Church, 2659 Clarence Rd., Clarence, NS followed by a reception in the Lawrencetown Fire Hall 2:00pm-4:00pm. Donations may be made in her memory to Clarence Baptist Church c/o Alan Jackson, 2904 Clarence Rd, Bridgetown, NS B0S 1C0 or to the charity of your choice. Arrangements have been entrusted to Serenity Funeral Home, 34 Coldbrook Village Park Dr., Coldbrook, NS, B4R 1B9 (902-679-2822).
