John Baxter Obituary

Near the northern border of the state of Kansas is a small town, Kensington. It was here the family of Norris W Baxter and Callie L Baxter lived. They had 3 girls, Virginia, Leona, & Lyda. Here John Pierce Baxter was born on October 21, 1925. He would wait 5 more years for a brother, Cloyce, to join the family. The girls still won! John's father worked as a rail supervisor for the Rock Island Railroad. John spent several summers in the heat doing the back-breaking job of splitting and repairing rails. On October 20, 1934, the family moved to Colorado Springs. The next day John celebrated his 9th birthday complete with cake and candles! John remembered his first day at Steele Elementary, a "big city" school! He also attended North Jr. High and graduated from Colorado Springs High School in 1943. He attended classes at Colorado College for a year before leaving to join his oldest sister's family in California. He worked in the factories busy building ships for the war effort. In 1946, as the war ended, John returned to Colorado Springs. He worked the next 20 years at Alexander Film Co., leaving when the company was sold. In 1967 he began his second career working in Computer Services at School District 11. Having learned the basic beginnings of data processing, John began a productive time working with the "new" machines. After 21 years he retired in 1988. A childhood memory of John's was of the family attending First Christian Church, located then on North Nevada across from Acacia Park. During a night service, the Church organ caught fire and the Church was destroyed. John remained a member of the Church rebuilt on the corner of Platte & Cascade for the rest of his life. He served there in many capacities; teacher, deacon, elder, pledge giver, member of many committees, chairing some, Board member, & Moderator of the Board, volunteer at Ecumenical Social Ministries. He attended the Bethel Bible Leadership classes in Wisconsin & then taught the Intensive Bethel Study 2 year program - twice. In his later years, he was honored to serve as an Elder Emeritus. John found enjoyment in reading, working jigsaw puzzles, football games on TV, being owned by two cats, visits with his children, pets of offspring (from sea horses to Morgan horses). He is survived by his wife, Juanita Alice; children, LuJean Lorraine, Karlene Mae, Kent Andrew, Kent's wife Lisa Carol, Jennifer Maxine and one brother, Cloyce. Visitation will be held from 3:00 PM-7:00 PM on Wednesday, June 30, 2010 at Blunt Mortuary Chapel, 2229 W. Colorado Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Funeral Services will be at 1:00 PM at First Christian Church, 16 E. Platte Ave., in Colorado Springs with interment to follow at Fairview Cemetery.